. Report  of  Water  Commi  ss'ioners 
elected  b<^  the  town  of  Plymouth 


REPORT 

OF  THE 
•i 

WATER  COMMISSIONERS, 

ELECTED  BY  THE. 


TOWN  OE  ELYMOUTH,, 


TO  CAUSE  WATER  TO  BE  BROUGHT 


FROM 


JSOTJT3EZ  3F»03»-I>, 


INTO  THE  VILLAGE  OF  PLYMOUTH.. 


SUBMITTED  TO  THE  SELECTMEN  FOR  EXAMINATION,  FEB.  1,  1856. 


PLYAIOUTH, 

OH  AS.  A,  S.  PERKINS,  PRINTER. 
1 8 5 6. 


3 

SUPPLEMENT  TO  REVISED  STATUTES, 

CHA.P’I^1SK  3 5 1. 

An  Act  to  authorize  the  Town  of  Plymouth  to  procure  a supply  of  Water. 

Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives^,  in  General  Court 
assembled,  and  by  the  authority  of  the  same,  as  follows : 

Sect.  1.  The  town  of  Plymouth,  in  the  County  of  Plymouth,  is  hereby  author- 
ized, by  and  through  the  agency  of  such  officers  as  the  Tegal  voters  of  said  town 
may  elect,  to  acquire  and  hold  by  purchase,  and  convey  through  any  part  of  said 
town,  the  water  of  any  pond,  spring,  or  strearu  in  said  town;  to  purchase  the  fran- 
chise, rights,  lixtures,  and  property  of  any  aqueduct  corporation  now  in  existence 
in  said  town,  and  to  acquire  and  hold  by  purchase,  any  lands  or  other  real  estate^ 
not  exceeding  in  value  twenty  thousand  dollars,  which  may  be  necessary  for  con- 
structing and  maintaining  an  aqueduet  for  the  supply  of  pure  water  to  the  inhab- 
itants of  said  town  of  Plymouth  ; and  said  town  may  erect  and  establish  sucb 
dams,  reservoirs  and  hydrants,  as  may  be  found  desirable,  and  in  general  do  any 
act  necessary  or  proper  for  the  purpose- of  constructing  and  maintaining  said  aque- 
duct. 

Sect.  %.  Said  town  may  lay  such  pipes  as  may  be  necessary  for  the  distribution 
of  water  in  s-aid  town,  prescribe  the  purposes  for  which  hydrants  may  be  used, 
regulate  the  use  of  water,  and  establish  such  prices  to  be  j.mid  for  the  use  of  the- 
same,  as  they  may  deem  expedient  and  proper:  provided,  that  not  less  than  five-- 
dollars  per  annum  shall  be  charged  for  each  family  using,  the  same,  and  a like  pro- 
portion in  other  cases. 

Sect.  3 The  said  town  of  Plymouth  shall  be  liable  to  pay  all  damages  that 
shall  be  sustained,  by  any  person  or  corporation,  in  their  property,  by  the  con- 
struction of  any  dam,  aqueduct,  reservoir  or  other  works,  for  the  purposes  of  this- 
act,  to  be  assessed  in  the  manner  provided  in  the  one  hundred  and  sixteenth  chap- 
ter of  the  Revised  Statutes  ; but  nothing  in  this  act  shall  authorize  said  town  to 
flow  the  lands  of  any  person  or  persons  without  their  consent. 

Sect.  4.  For  the-  purpose  of  defraying  the  expense  of  the  construction  of  said 
aqueduct,  and  of  the  purchase  of  an-y  lands,  real  estate,  rights  and  franchises,  and 
all  other  expenses  incident  to  the  same,  the  said  town  may  issue  scrip,  notes,  or 
certificates  of  debt,  to  be  called  Plymouth  Water  Scrip,  to  an  amount  not  exceed- 
ing thirty  thousand  dollars,  bearing  interest  at  a rate  not  exceeding  the  legal  rate 
in  this  Commonwealth,  said  interest  payable  semi-annually,  and  the  principal  pay- 
able at  periods-  not  exceeding  thirty  years  from  the  date  of  the  issue  of  said  scrip, 
notes  or  certificates.  And  said  town,  in  such  manner  as  its  legal  voters  may 
elect,  may  sell  the  same,  from  time  to  time  : provided,  no  scrip  shall  be  issued  for 
the  payment  of  any  mterest  on  money  borrowed  for  the  purpose  of  this  act,  after 
the  expiration  ol'  two  years  from  the  completion  of  said  water  works. 

Sect.  5*.  The  surplus  of  the  net  income  derived  from  said  water  w-oiks,  after 
payment  of  the  semi-annual  interest  upon  said  scrip,  and  after  deducting  all  the- 
charges  of  distribution  and  repairs,  and  other  expenses  incident  to  the  same,  shall 
be  set  apart  as  a sinking  fund,  which,  with  the  accumulated  interest  upon  the 
same,  shall,  be  devoted  to  the  payment  of  sai«l  scrip  at  maturity.  And  the  se- 
lectmen of  said  town,  for  the  time  being,  shall  be  commissioners  to  hold,  invest 
and  manage  said  sinking  fund,  rendering  to  said  town,  at  each  annual  meeting,  a 
statement  of  the  condition  thereof. 

Sect.  6.  The  Selectmen  of  s-aid  town  of  Plymouth  shall  notify  and  v.^arn  the 
legal  voters  of  said  town,  to  meet  at  such  time  and  place  as  said  selectmen  shall 
direct,  not  exceeding  six  months  from  and  after  the  passage  of  this  act,  ior  the 
purpose  of  giving  in  their  printed  or  written  votes,  upon  the  question  whether 
they  will  accept  the  same  ;•  and  if  a majority  of  the  votes  so  given  shall  be  in  th.) 
negative,  this  act  shall  be  null  and  void. 

Sect.  7.  This  act  shall  take  effect  from  and  after  its  passage.  [Approved  by 
the  Governorl  April  22,  li854.] 

At  a meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Plymouth  called  for  that  pur- 
pose by  the  Selectmen,  and  held  at  the  Town  House  on  the  third  day  of  June« 
the  foregoing,  act  was  adopted  in  the  manner  provided  in  said  act. 

Attest  : LEANDER  LOVELL,  Town  Clerk. 


iv: 


A“t  a legal  Town  Meeting  held  December  2G,  185  4,  it  was 

Voted,  that  nineoflicers  <n  water  commissioners  he  cliosen  by  ballot  to  conatruciT' 
the  waterworks  or  aqueduct  and  make  all  necessary  purchases  and  contracts  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  act  aforesaid  passed  by  the  Legislature  and  approved  by  the  Gov- 
ernor April  22d,  1854,  (said  act  was  adopted  by  the  town  the  third  day  of  June 
last)  necessary  for  the  completion  of  said  works,  and  made  choice  of  the  following 
persons  officers  or  water  Commissioners  in  accordance  with  said  act  : — Charles  O. 
Churchill,  Eleazer  C Sherman,  Johnaon  Davee,  Daniel  J.  Lane,  William  Hall, 
Kendall  W.  King,  Moses  Bates,  Jr.,  Winslow  Cole  and  Rufus  Churchill. 

[VVinslow  Cole  and  Rufus  Churchill  having  declined  to  serve  as  commissioners 
Samuel  II.  Doten  and  David  Drew  were  subsequently- elected.] 

Voted,  That  the  officers  or  water  commissioners  this  day  chosen  shall  hold  their 
office  until  the  March  meeting,  in  the  year  A.  D.  1856,  and  until  others  are  chosen 
and  qualihed  in  their  stead. 

Voted,  That  the  officers  or  water  commissioners  be  instructed  to  cause  water  to 
be  brought  from  Great  or  Little  South  Pond  into  the  village  of  Plymouth  in  a 
main  pipe  of  not  less  than  ten  inches  in  diameter  and  to  convey  the  same  in  ser- 
vice pipes  into  any  part  of  the  town  where  a sufficient  guarantee  shall  he  given 
that  the  receipts  for  the  use  of  water  shall  be  (iqual  to  sis>  per  cent  annually  on  the 
outlay,  for  expenses  of  said  service  pipes  from  the  main  pipe  or  from  the  end  of 
any  service  pipe  which  may  have  been  laid. 

Voted,  That  the  selectmen  be  authorized  and  required  for  the  purpose  of  de- 
fraying the  expenses  of  the  construction  of  said  aqueduct  or  water  works,  and  of  the 
purchase  of  any  lands,  real  e.-tate,  rights  and  franchises,  and  all  other- expenses 
incident  to  the  same  to  issue  scrip,  notes  or  certificates  of  debt,  to  be  called  Ply- 
mouth Water  Seri)),  to  an  amount  not  exceeding  thirty  thousand  dollars,  bearing 
interest  at  a rate  not  exceeding  the  legal  rate  in  this  Commonwealth,  said  interest 
payable  semi-annually,  and  the  principal  payable  at  periods  not  exceeding  thirty 
years  from  the  date  of  the  issue  of  said  scrip,  notes  or  certificates,  and  the  select- 
men shall  sell  the  said  scrip,  notes  or  certificates  at  a rate  not  less  than  par 
value,  from  time  to  time  as  tlie  officers  or  water  commissioners  may  require,  pro- 
vided no  scrip,  notes  or  certificates  shall  be  issued  for  the  payment  of  any  interest 
or  money  borrowed  for  the  purpose  of  this  act  after  the  expiration  of  two  years 
from  the  completion  of  said  water  works  or  aqueduct. 

Voted,  That  a committee  of  five  be  chosen  lo  petition  the  Legislature  for  an  Act 
Supplementary,  or  in  addition  to  an  Act  passed  the  Legislature  and  approved  by 
the  Governor  April  22,  1854,  entitled  “An  Act  to  authorize  the  town  or  Plymouth 
to  procure  a supply  of  water,  (said  act  was  adopted  by  the  town  on  the  third  day 
of  June  list)  granting  to  the  officers  or  water  Qommissioners,  who  shall  be  elected 
by  said  town  poVi^er  to  take  any  land  or  water  power  for  the  purpose  of  construct- 
ing said  water  woi’ks  or  aqueduct,  and  if  the  terms  of  payment  for  any  such  land 
or  water  works  cannot  be  adjusted  with  the  owner  thereof,  the  damage  shall  be 
assessed  by  the  county  commissioners  in  the  same  manner  as  provided  for  in  the 
construction  of  railroads,  and  also  giving  said  officers  or  water  commissioners  full 
power  to  fix  the  compensation  to  be  paid  for  the  water,  provided  that  the  average 
price  to  each  family  shalhnot  be  less  than  five  dollars  per  aunum. 

And  I hat  said  committee  be  also  instructed  to  petition  for  the  amendment  of 
said  act,  granting  to  said  town  full  power  to  i-sue  a suitable  amount  of  scrip  for 
the  construction  of  said  water  works  or  aqueduct  and  to  provide  for  the  redemption 
of  said  scrip. 

The  following  persons- were  chosen  said  committee,  viz  ; 

Moses  Bates,  Jr., 
William  H.  Spear, 
CuAS.  0.  Churchill, 
Leander  Lovell, 
Abiatiier  Hoxie. 


A true  copy  of  record. 
Attest  ; 


LEANDER  LOVELL,  Town  Clerk. 


V. 


“An  Adt  in  addition  to  an  Act  to  authorize  the  town  of  Plymouth  to  procure  a 

supply  of  water. 

Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representaiives  in  Grnerid  Court  assent' 
bled,  and  by  the  authority  of  the  same.,  as  follons  : 

Sect.  1.  The  town  of  Plymouth  in  the  county  of  Plymouth  is  hereby  author- 
ized through  the  agency  of  such  officers,  or  water  commissioners,  as  have  been  or 
may  hereafter  be  elected  by  the  legal  voters  of  said  town,  to  purchase  or  other- 
wise take  any  land,  water,  water  pow^r,  or  materials  necessary  for  the  purposes 
of  constructing  an  aqueduct  in  said  town,  as  provided  by  an  Act  of  tlie  Legislature, 
passed  April  twenty-second, in  the  year  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  fifty-four, and 
ifthepriceto  be  paid  bysaid  townforsuch  land, water,  water-power  or  materials  can- 
not be  fixed  by  agreement  with  the  owner  or  owners  thereof,  the  same  shall  be  es- 
timated by  the  county  commissioners  in  the  manner  provided  in  the  twenty- fourth 
and  thirty  ninth  chapters  of  the  Revised  Statutes  : — provided,  that  the  right  of 
either  party  to  a jury  shall  be  forever  barred,  unless  the  petition  for  the  same  shall 
be  filed  within  six  months  from  the  time  when  such  land,  water,  water  power,  or 
materials  shall  have  been  taken. 

Sect.  2.  Said  town  shall  have  authority  through  the  agency  of  the  officers 
aforesaid,  to  prescribe  all  the  purposes  for  which  water  may  be  used,  and  establish 
the  prices,  or  water  rents  to  be  paid  for  the  use  of  the  same,  provided  that  the  av- 
erage price  to  be  paid  for  each  family  using  said  water,  shall  not  be  less  than  five 
dollars  per  annum. 

Sect.  3.  Said  town  of  Plymouth  is  hereby  authorized,  in  addition  to  the  sum  of 
thirty  thousand  dollars  i mined  in  said  act  passed  in  the  year  one  thousand  eight  hun- 
dred and  fifty  four,  to  which  this  act  is  in  addition,  to  issue  such  an  amount  of  Ply- 
mouth Water  Scrip,  as  provided  in  the  aforesaid  act, as  shall  be  necessary  in  the  opin- 
ion of  the  legal  voters  of  said  town,  to  complete  said  aqueduct,  and  the  same  shall  be 
issued  and  sold  in  the  manner  prescribed  in  the  act  aforesaid,  unless  otherwise 
provided  by  a vote  of  said  town  ; provided  that  no  scrip  shall  be  issued  payable  at 
a period  of  more  than  thirty  years  from  ihe  date  of  the  issue  of  said  scrip. 

Sect.  4.  All  parts  of  the  Act  of  eighteen  hundred  and  fifty  four,  to  which  this 
is  in  addition,  inconsistent  with  the  foregoing  provisions,  are  hereby  repealed. 

Sect.  5.  This  Act  shall  take  effect  from  and  after  its  passage.  {Approved  by 
the  Governor,  March  I6th,  1855. 

TOWN  MEETING.— Plymouth,  May  5,  1855. 

Voted,  To  accept  the  Act  passed  by  the  General  Court  and  approved  on  the 
16th  day  of  March  last  entitled  “An  Act  in  addition  to  an  Act  to  authorize  the 
Town  of  Plymouth  to  procure  a supply  of  water.” 

A true  copy  of  record. 

Attest  : 


LEANDER  LOVELL,  Town  Clsrk. 


TOWN  MEETING.— Pltmodth,  Nov.  17, 1855. 

The  following  Resolution  was  introduced  by  the  Chairman  of  the  Water  Com- 
missioners and  adopted  by  the  town. 

BeGoIved,  That  said  Water  Commissioners,  on  the  completion  of  the  water 
works  in  accordance  with  their  estimates,  be  directed  to  make  a detailed  report  of 
all  the  expenditures  on  account  of  said  construction,  showing  the  amount  of  ex- 
penditures for  each  portion  of  the  work,  and  cause  the  same  to  be  printed  in  such 
form  as  shall  be  deemed  most  convenient,  and  a suflBcient  number  thereof  to  l>e 
deposited  with  the  Town  Treasurer.,  on  or  before  the  first  day  of  February  1856, 
ibr  the  supply  ol  all  the  legal  voters  of  the  town.  And  that  all  the  accounts  of 
said  Board  of  Water  Commissioners  be  audited  by  the  Selectmen. 

A true  copy  of  record. 

Attest  : 


LEANDER  LOVELL,  T&wn  Ckrk, 


To  the  Selectmen  of  the  Town  of  Plymouth. 

The  period  for  which  the  undersigned  were  elected  as  Water 
Commissioners  for  the  Town  of  Plymouth  being  about  to 
expire,  it  becomes  our  duty,  in  accordance  with  the  in- 
structions of  the  town,  to  submit  for  your  consideration 
our  final 

REPORT. 

In  entering  upon  the  discharge  of  duties  of  so  much  impor- 
tance to  the  town  as  that  of  affording  to  the  people  an  abund- 
ant supply  of  PURE  WATER,  the  Commissioners  have  hoped  to 
appreciate  the  magnitude  of  the  task  which  had  been  assigned 
to  them,  and  at  the  termination  of  their  labors  it  is  a satisfac- 
tion to  be  able  to  render  to  the  people,  whose  interests  had 
been  entrusted  to  them,  a faithful  account  of  their  steward- 
ship. 

The  question  of  furnishing  a supply  of  water  by  artificial 
means  for  a town  situated  like  our  own,  where  the  advan- 
tages accruing  to  the  inhabitants  must,  in  some  degree,  oper- 
ate unequally  in  proportion  as  they  are  enabled  to  avail  them- 
selves directly  of  those  advantages,  is  a question  upon  which 
there  must  necessarily  be  a diversity  of  opinions.  But  this 
matter  has  fortunately  been  settled  by  the  town  in  its  corpo- 
rate capacity,  and  in  a manner  which  must  be  eminently  sat- 
isfactory to  the  whole  people.  The  several  Acts  which  have 
been  passed  by  the  Legislature,  in  pursuance  of  the  direct 
votes  of  the  town  itself,  have  guarded  sacredly  and  securedly 
against  any  contingency  by  which  the  polls  or  estates  of  the 
people  are  likely  to  be  assessed  for  defraying  the  expenses  of 
this  construction.  The  credit  of  the  town  has  been  loaned, 
to  secure  the  payment  of  the  scrip  upon  which  the  money  has 
been  borrowed  to  construct  our  works,  in  the  same  manner  as 
the  credit  of  the  State  is  loaned  to  secure  the  construction  of 
some  of  our  most  important  railroads  ; but  the  redemption  of 
this  scrip  and  ultimate  discharge  of  the  liabilities  of  the  town 


^8 


WATER  commissioners'  REPORT. 


is  incumbent  upon  those  who  are  directly  benefited  by  the  wa^ 
ter  itself,  while  the  additional  enterprise  and  business,  conse- 
quent always  upon  public  improvements,  will  enhance  the 
amount  of  property  upon  the  valuation  for  the  assessment  of 
taxes,  and  by  affording  a more  ready  and  extensive  home 
market,  enure  to  the  advantage  of  every  producer  in  the  town, 
whatever  his  locality  or  his  possessions. 

The  duties  of  the  Commissioners  have  in  some  respects  been 
defined  by  the  votes  of  instruction  from  the  town,  and  so  far 
as  those  instructions  are  decisive  it  has  been  our  purpose  to 
pursue  them  to  the  end,  that  the  expressed  will  of  the  people 
should  be  carried  out.  From  the  nature  of  these  instructions, 
which  provide  that  the  water  shall  be  brought  into  the  village 
of  Plymouth  from  “ Great  or  Little  South  Pond,"  in  pipes 
‘‘  not  less  than  ten  inches  in  diameter,"  and  conveyed  into  all 
parts  of  the  town  where  a sufficient  guaranty  shall  be  given 
that  the  income  for  the  use  of  the  water  shall  be  six  per  cent, 
merely  upon  the  cost  of  distribution^  it  is  clear  that  the  town 
has  contemplated  the  construction  of  water  works  not  merely 
to  meet  the  wants  of  our  present  population,  but  to  build  a 
permanent  structure,  adequate  to  supply  a large  and  flourish- 
town,  for  which  Plymouth  is  possessed  of  almost  every  natu- 
ral advantage,  except  pure  water. 

To  carry  out  these  intentions  of  the  people  of  Plymouth, 
expressed  by  their  votes,  or  following  by  necessary  implica- 
tion, on  the  28th  of  December,  1854,  we  accepted  the  ap- 
pointment of  Water  Commissioners,  and  entered  upon  the  per- 
formance of  our  duties. 

The  Board  of  Commissioners  was  organized  by  the  choice 
of  Charles  0.  Churchill,  as  Chairman,  and  Moses  Bates,  Jr., 
as  Secretary,  which  officers  have  continued  in  the  discharge 
of  their  duties  to  the  present  time. 

One  of  the  first  acts  of  the  commissioners,  was  to  secure 
the  services  of  Wm.  S.  Whitwell,  Esq.,  of  Boston,  under 
whose  superintendence,  the  most  difficult  portions  of  the  Bos- 
ton Water  Works  were  constructed,  as  well  as  others  of  a sim- 


WATER  commissioners’  REPORT. 


9 


ilar  character,  and  in  whose  judgment  we  were  confident  the 
whole  people  would  rely  ; and  he  has  continued  to  advise 
Avith  the  Board  as  our  consulting  engineer,  during  the  pro- 
gress of  the  work. 

As  the  constructing  engineer,  a member  of  this  Board  has 
been  employed,  under  whose  directions  the  excavations  and 
some  other  portions  of  the  work  have  been  performed,  and 
whose  report  herewith  annexed,  will  give  some  idea  of  the 
extent  and  character  of  our  works. 

Aware  that  contracts  must  be  drawn,  upon  the  perform- 
ance of  whidi  would  be  involved  large  amounts  of  the  money 
of  the  Town,  and  presuming  that  questions  might  arise,  in- 
Amlving  to  some  extent  matters  of  a legal  nature,  the  Commis- 
sioners engaged  the  services  of  Jacob  H.  Loud,  Esq.,  as 
their  adviser  upon  all  matters  where  questions  of  doubtful  le- 
gality might  be  involved,  and  to  his  exertions  are  we  indebted 
in  a considerable  degree,  for  the  success  with  which  our  efforts 
have  been  crowned. 

The  source  of  supply  being  limited  to  one  of  two  lakes,  or 
ponds,  careful  examinations  were  necessary  to  determine  which 
of  those  sources  should  be  adopted,  and  early  in  February 
last  they  were  both  examined,  in  company  with  Mr.  Whit- 
well,  and  subsequently,  after  a careful  survey  of  the  whole 
premises  the  smaller  lake,  or  “ Little  South  Pond,”  was 
adopted,  for  reasons  embraced  in  the  Report  of  the  Engineer. 

The  most  important  question  to  bo  decided  by  the  Com- 
missioners, because  involving  an  appropriation  of  money 
equal  to  all  other  parts  of  the  work  combined,  was  the  kind 
of  pipes  through  which  the  water  should  be  conveyed.  The 
largest  experience  in  this  country,  as  well  as  in  Europe, 
pointed  to  Cast  Iron,  as  the  principal  material  used  in  the 
construction  of  water  pipes.  But  the  experience  of  the  last 
few  years  has  shown  that  where  water  approximates  in  any 
considerable  degree  to  purity,  the  iron  pipes  through  Avhich 
it  has  been  conveyed  have  become  coated  with  rust,  or  tuber- 
cles, in  some  instances  diminishing  the  size  of  the  pipes  as 


10 


WATER  commissioners’  REPORT. 


much  as  50  per  cent.,  and  the  iron  couplings  used  for  connect- 
ing the  wooden  logs  of  the  old  aqueduct  in  this  town,  in  some 
instances,  were  found  to  have  been  diminished  in  their  capac- 
ity for  conveying  water  more  than  seventy-five  per  cent,  by 
the  accumulation  of  these  tubercles.  The  analyzation  of  the 
waters  of  South  Pond,  by  Professor  Horsford,  of  Harvard  Uni- 
versity, having  shown  them  to  be  of  unsurpassing  purity,  and 
all  experience  having  proved  that  the  injury  to  iron  pipes  is 
increased  in  proportion  as  the  water  is  pure,  the  Commissioners 
were  decided  to  look  for  other  material  than  iron  for  the  con- 
struction of  the  pipes. 

The  report  of  a committee  of  the  Town  in  1854,  having 
presented  some  important  evidence  relative  to  the  use  of  an 
article  called  Ball’s  Patent  Indestructible  Cement  Pipe,” 
the  Commissioners  decided  to  test  that  evidence  by  inquiries 
in  places  where  this  pipe  had  been  introduced.  For  this  pur- 
pose Messrs.  Lane  and  Davee,  visited  the  city  of  Rockland, 
in  the  State  of  Maine,  where  this  pipe  has  been  some  three 
years  in  use,  and  Mr.  Sherman  visited  the  establishment  in 
Jersey  City,  N.  J.,  where  the  pipe  is  manufactured  ; and  the 
result  of  all  their  enquiries  was  so  entirely  corrooorative  of 
the  facts  presented  by  the  committee  of  1854  (provided  a 
proper  degree  of  care  is  observed,  and  suitable  material  used 
in  its  construction,)  that  an  adoption  of  this  pipe  was  decided 
upon ; and  on  the  29th  of  March  a contract  was  concluded 
with  the  Jersey  Ci^y  Patent  Water  & Gas  Pipe  Co.,”  un- 
der which  57,679  feet,  or  nearly  eleven  miles  of  main  and 
distributing  pipe  have  been  put  down,  besides  a correspond- 
ing amount  of  service  pipe  of  the  same  material. 

And  so  far  as  we  can  form  an  estimate  of  the  value  of  this 
pipe  by  our  experience  thus  far,  it  has  been  in  the  highest 
^degree  satisfactory.  The  water  has  been  flowing  through  a 
■considerable  portion  of  the  pipes  since  the  15th  of  August, 
and  through  all  of  them  from  South  Pond  since  the  29th  of 
October  ; during  which  time  very  few  leaks  have  appeared, 
much  less  indeed  than  might  have  been  anticipated  in  the 


IVATETl  COMMISSIONERS  REPORT. 


11 


fsame  number  of  connections  of  iron  pipe,  wMle  the  water  ap- 
pears to  flow  with  perfect  purity  and  freedom  ; and  where  oc- 
casions have  been  presented  for  disturbing  the  pipe,  it  has 
heen  found  in  a condition  to  warrant  a belief  that  it  will  be, 
what  the  manufacturers  claim  for  it,  indestructible. 

To  adapt  the  various  sizes  of  pipe  to  the  different  streets  or 
sections  of  the  town  in  such  a manner  as  to  insure  an  equal 
supply  of  water,  has  been  among  the  most  difficult  of  our  du- 
ties, from  the  fact  that  demands  would  be  made  for  water  by 
the  people  in  sections  of  the  town  where  its  flow  had  been 
unanticipated,  or  the  amount  required  under  estimated, 
after  the  pipes,  in  other  portions  through  which  the  water 
must  pass  to  reach  these  localities  had  been  ordered,  and  in 
•some  instances  had  been  laid.  But  in  these  respects  it  is  be- 
lieved that  no  errors  have  been  committed,  which,  in  a prop- 
er distribution  of  pipes,  in  the  extensions  of  the  work,  which 
will  soon  have  to  be  made,  to  meet  the  wants  of  the  people, 
may  not  be  entirely  obviated. 

The  main  pipe,  extending  from  the  lake  to  Court  Street, 
is  of  the  smallest  size  which  we  could  have  adopted  under  the 
instructions  of  the  town,  and  much  smaller  indeed  than  our 
own  convictions,  or  the  advice  of  those  by  whose  experience 
we  have  in  many  instances  been  guided,  would  have  dictated. 
But  the  additional  expense  of  such  a main  as  our  own  sense 
*of  right,  under  other  circumstances,  might  have  dictated  te 
supply  a town  four  miles  in  extent,  would  have  increased  the 
^aggregate  cost  of  the  pipes  by  more  than  fifteen  thousand  dot- 
dars^  which  additional  expense  we  did  not  feel  justified  in 
incurring  at  the  present  time.  This  deficiency  has  in  some 
degree  been  obviated  by  the  adoption  of  a continuous  descend- 
ing grade  from  the  source,  to  the  commencement  of  the  ser- 
vice, and  is  as  we  believe  entirely  overcome  by  the  construc- 
tion of  a reservoir  to  supply  the  loss  of  head  from  the  want  of 
•a  more  commodious  main. 

In  their  estimates  preparatory  to  the  negotiation  o.f  a con- 
tract for  the  pipes  of  the  different  sections  of  the  town  through 


12 


WATER  commissioners'  REPORT. 


which  it  would  be  necessary  to  carry  the  water,  the  Commis- 
sioners were  obliged  to  be  governed  by  their  own  judgment 
with  regard  to  the  prospective  wants  of  the  town  ; and  if  they 
have  over  estimated  the  demand  for  service  in  some  sections,  and 
under  estimated  in  others,  it  is  only  because  they  were  want- 
ing in  a full  appreciation  of  the  character  of  the  people.  To 
have  waited  until  each  individual  should  apply  for  his  service 
pipe  before  contracting  for  the  pipes  which  were  to  convey 
the  water  from  the  lake,  would  of  course  have  amounted  to 
an  indefinite  postponement  of  the  whole  work ; nor  did  such  a 
course  appear  deducible,  by  any  reasonable  construction  of  the 
laws  by  which  we  are  governed,  or  the  instructions  of  the 
town  with  which  it  has  been  our  purpose  to  comply.  Our 
instructions  to  carry  the  water  into  all  parts  of  the  town  where 
the  amount  of  income  should  only  be  eq^ual  to  six  per  cent,  for 
the  cost  heymd  my  piece  of  pipe  which  may  have  been  laid; 
clearly  contemplate  the  laying  of  pipe  through  the  streets  be- 
fore that  demand  for  extensions  shall  be  made,  and  seems  in-^ 
tended  rather  to  prevent  the  Gbmmissioners  from  withholding 
a supply  of  water  to  any  person  who  would  pay  for  it  a rea-' 
sonable  compensation,  than  as  any  general  direction  for  sup- 
plying the  ^ ^village  of  Pl3rmouth,"  which  had  been  provided 
for  in  the  Act  of  the  Legislature,  as  well  as  in  the  appropri- 
ation of  money  by  the  town. 

With  this  view  of  their  duties,  the  Commissioners  have  ex- 
tended the  pipes  from  the  village  known  as  Welfingsley 
in  one  direction,  to  that  generally  recognized  as  “^North  Ply- 
mouth,'' at  the  factories  of  the  ‘^‘Plymouth  Cordage  Compa- 
ny," and  Kingston  line  in  the  other ; in  the  first  instance  ex- 
tending south  about  one  mile  from  the  point  of  distribution 
near  the  Court  House,  and  in  the  latter  about  two  and  a quar- 
ter miles  to  the  north.  Besides  these  principal  lines,  the 
water  has  been  carried  through  nearly  all  the  streets  in  the 
more  thickly  populated  portion  of  the  town,  and  embracing, 
as  will  be  seen  by  the  plans  of  the  engineer,,  one  continuous 
village  or  towm 


WATER  COMMISSIONERS^  REPORT. 


13 


In  addition  to  the  pipes  already  laid,  and  where  applica- 
tions for  water  came  too  late  in  the  season  to  admit  of  our 
compliance  with  the  demand,  are  several  new  or  less  thickly 
populated  streets,  to  supply  which,  will  doubtless  be  among 
the  first  duties  of  our  successors. 

Excepting  in  the  southern  distribution  of  the  work,  the  de- 
mand for  the  water  has  exceeded  our  anticipations,  and  the 
number  of  water  takers  already  drawing  from  the  pipes  before 
the  structure  is  completed,  will  be  found  to  pay,  in  their  wa- 
ter rents,  an  income  exceeding  three  per  cent,  upon  the  entire 
cost  of  the  works  ; which  amount  will  be  largely  increased  as 
soon  as  the  opening  of  spring  shall  admit  of  the  excavations 
for  laying  the  service. 

In  the  southern  portion  of  the  village  the  people  have  not 
yet  availed  themselves  of  the  advantages  of  the  water,  but  the 
saving  to  the  town  by  the  introduction  of  the  hydrants,  of  the 
expense  of  a Fire  Engine,  which  was  justly  demanded  in  that 
locality,  will  fully  justify  that  extension,  while  the  advan- 
tages to  be  derived  from  its  use  cannot  fail  to  induce  the  peo- 
ple there  soon  to  become  water  takers. 

The  contract  for  excavations  and  masonry,  upon  the  line  of 
our  works,  excepting  the  trenches  for  the  reception  of  the 
pipes,  were  given  to  Mr.  E.  H.  Joslyn,  of  North  Bridge- 
water,  whose  proposals  were  the  lowest  of  those  received  from 
several  contractors.  He  has  performed  his  part  of  the  work  to 
our  entire  satisfaction,  appearing  always  to  be  governed  as  well 
by  a sense  of  justice  and  the  interests  of  the  work,  as  by  the  strict 
letter  of  his  contract.  This  part  of  the  work  has  been  brought 
within  the  original  estimate  of  the  Engineer,  which  was 
$9,500.00. 

The  excavations  for  the  pipes  in  the  principal  streets  of  the 
village,  where  the  intersection  and  disarrangement  of  the  gas 
pipes,  and  logs  of  the  old  aqueduct,  rendered  it  unadvisable 
to  let  the  work  by  contract,  were  done  under  the  superintend- 
ence of  Mr.  William  Hall,  one  of  our  Board,  and  also  the  su- 
perintendent of  streets  in  this  part  of  the  town — the  workmen 


14  WATER  commissioners''  REPORT.. 

employed  being  for  the  most  part  our  own  citizens,  and  tax- 
payers,. and  who  were  paid  by  the  secretary  of  the  Board.. 
Although  this  portion  of  the  work  might  have  been  done  upon 
a contract  with  a somewhat  smaller  appropriation,- yet  we  have 
the  satisfaction  of  knowing  that  during  all  the  interruptions 
in  our  narrow  streets  no  accident  or  extra  expense  of  any  im- 
portance occurred,  and  that  nearly  the  whole  amount  of  money 
thus  paid  was  to  be  distributed  again  among  our  own  popula- 
tion.. 

Upon  the  main  line,  and  through  the  streets  in  some  of  the 
more  remote  sections  of  the  towUy  it  was  deemed  unadvisable 
to  do  this  work  by  the  day,  and  on  the  6th  of  August  a con- 
tract was  concluded  with  Messrs.  James  and  William  Hall, 
under  which  most  of  the  remaining  trenches  were  excavated. 

The  back  filling  of  the  trenches,  after  the  pipes  had  been 
laid,  was  performed  by  the  New  Jersey  Water  Pipe  Co.,  by 
special  agreement ; that  portion  of  the  work,  or  a part  of  it, 
being  considered  by  that  company  important,  in  keeping  the 
cement  on  their  pipes  in  its  proper  place  until  sufficiently 
hardened  to  retain  its  position,'  and  adhere  to  the  iron,  w^hich 
constitutes  a portion  of  the  pipe. 

In  entering  the  lake,  at  a sufficient  depth  below  its  sur- 
face to  secure  a full  and  pure  flow  of  water,  much  difficulty 
was  encountered,  from  the  loose  texture  of  the  sand  which 
constitutes  the  entire  embankment  or  shore  of  the  lake,  and 
the  cost  of  this  part  of  the  work  considerably  exceeded  our 
calculation.  But  as  finally  constructed,  with  a pipe  twenty 
inches  in  diameter  for  the  first  fifty  feet  from  the  filter,  it  is 
believed  to  be  in  a situation  to  last  for  ages,  increasing  in 
strength  and  durability,  as  the  cement  becomes  more  imper- 
vious to'  water. 

The  filtering  apparatus  is  contained  within  the  flume  or  water 
room,  as  described  in  the  report  of  the  Engineer,  and  is  be- 
lieved not  to  be  excelled  in  its  effect  to  prevent  anything  hut 
water  from  flowing  into  the  pipes,  and  with  sufficient  rapidity 
to  supply  the  ordinary  draft,  by  the  people.  The  freedom  of 


WATEll  CO^i^lSSIONERS*  REPORT. 


15 


our  water  from  any  sediment  or  impurity,  is  the  strongest 
proof  of  the  value  of  this  part  of  the  work,  and  fully  justified 
this  outlay  of  money.  These  portions  of  the  work  were  done 
by  the  day,  and  excepting  the  Gate  House,  and  part  of  the 
trench  excavations,  under  the  superintendence  of  the  Engineer, 
by  whom  all  the  bills  were  paid. 

Although  the  capacity  of  Little  South  Pond  was  deemed 
amply  sufficient  to  supply  the  town  of  Plymouth  with  water 
for  any  period  of  time,  if  kept  at  its  ordinary  level,  still  the 
examinations  of  the  engineer  having  shown  that  water  was 
reached  on  any  part  of  the  belt  of  land  that  divides  this  from 
the  principal  lake,  or  “Great  South  Pond,’'  on  excavating  to 
the  approximate  level  of  the  two  ponds,  it  was  deemed  advis- 
able for  the  town  to  avail  itself  of  the  provision  in  the  Act  of 
the  Legislature,  allowing  the  “taking  of  the  water  of  any  pond 
or  stream,”  in  the  town,  and  prevent  any  future  contingency 
which  on  reducing  to  a considerable  extent  the  larger  lake, 
might  diminish  the  supply  of  the  smaller  one,  and  thus  sub- 
ject the  town  to  much  inconvenience  with  regard  to  its  high- 
er streets.  To  prevent  such  an  emergency  a canal  was  exca- 
vated, to  allow  the  water  to  flow  from  the  larger  into  the 
smaller  lake  ; and  on  the  16th  of  July,  1855,  a “mud  sill” 
was  put  down  to  secure  to  the  town  the  right  for  water  to 
flow  into  the  source  from  which  the  pipes  take  their  supply  ; 
making  all  other  parties  liable  to  the  town  who  should  there- 
after deepen  the  artificial  outlet  from  the  larger  lake.  Anoth- 
er effect  of  this  canal  is  to  increase  and  keep  up  the  level  of 
the  smaller  lake — the  larger  one,  during  the  dry  season,  being 
found  considerable  the  highest ; and  for  the  first  fourteen  days 
after  the  waters  of  the  two  lakes  were  connected,  the  smaller 
one  rose  upon  an  average  one  inch  per  day,  the  water  flowing 
through  the  pipes  for  the  supply  of  the  town  at  the  same  time. 

The  construction  of  the  Eeservoir  has  involved  a consider- 
expenditure  of  money,  which  the  Commissioners  would  gladly 
have  avoided,  and  which  upon  a superficial  examination  they 
might  have  been  disposed  to  consider  could  have  been  dis- 


16 


WATER  COMMISSIONJ^RS’  REPORT. 


pensed  with.  But  the  advice  of  Mr.  Whitwell,  whose  large 
experience,  and  scientific  attainments  gave  us  entire  confi- 
dence in  his  judgment,  as  well  as  the  result  of  experience 
in  other  places  where  water  works  had  been  constructed, 
gave  such  assurance  of  the  absolute  necessity  of  this  portion 
of  the  work  that  we  did  not  feel  at  liberty  to  terminate  our 
labors  without  its  construction.  At  first  it  was  thought  the 
work  might  be  delayed  until  another  season,  but  the  additional 
cost  of  excavation,  when  new  contractors  must  equip  for  the 
work,  and  of  laying  the  pipes  necessary  to  unite  the  reservoir 
with  the  connections  in  the  streets  after  the  pipe  layers  ha<l 
removed  all  their  lining  and  pipe  laying  apparatus  to^  a distant 
State,  decided  the  Commissioners  that  such  delay  would  be 
dictated  neither  by  good  judgment,  or  a due  regard  to  the  in- 
terests of  the  town,  and  this  decision  was  strengthened  by  the 
experience  in  the  city  of  Rockland  before  alluded  to,-  and  sim- 
ilarly situated  to  Plymouth,  where  the  projectors  had  decided 
to  dispense  with  a Reservoir,  but  were  obliged  subsequently 
to  construct  it,  much  to  their  disadvantage,  as  regards  the 
cost  of  the  works. 

The  most  suitable  locality  for  the  Reservoir  in  the  opinion 
of  the  Engineers  was  that  which  has  been  adopted  on  “Rus- 
selTs  Hill,'’  and  a committee  of  the  Board  was  selected  to 
make  a purchase  of  the  land  for  that  purpose, — which  after 
considerable  delay  was  accomplished,  and  the  contracts  were 
made  for  the  prosecution  of  the  work.  The  excavations  and 
embankments  for  this  construction  have  been  done  also  by 
Mr.  Joslyn,  under  the  direction  of  the  Engineer,  and  with  the 
same  satisfaction  as  upon  the  main  line. 

The  clay  which  constitutes  the  lining,  or  water-proof  portion 
of  the  work  was  procured  of  Mr.  Josiah  A.  Robbins,  and  carted 
by  Mr.  Chas.  Gurney,  of  N.  Bridgewater,  whose  proposals  were 
considerably  lower  than  any  others  received  for  the  same  labor. 
-The  whole  superintendence  of  the  construction  of  the  Reservoir, 
after  the  excavations  were  completed,  was  committed  to  Mr. 
Davee,  whose  long  experience  as  a mason  and  contractor  in 


WATER  commissioners'  REPORT. 


17 


Plymouth  entitled  him  to  the  confidence  of  the  people,  and 
in  whose  judgment  to  perform  this  part  of  the  work  we  have 
full  reliance  ; and  he  has  employed  such  assistance  as  he  found 
necessary  to  its  accomplishment,  for  which  the  money  has 
been  drawn  and  the  payments  made  by  the  Secretary  of 
the  Board,  This  part  of  the  work,  in  consequence  of  the 
lateness  of  the  season  when  we  were  obliged  to  commence, 
we  have  found  it  impossible  to  complete  before  the  severity  of 
the  weather  obliged  us  to  close  the  work  for  the  season.  Suf- 
ficient progress  however  had  been  made  to  allow  water  to  be 
let  into  the  Reservoir  to  a depth  of  some  thirteen  feet,  which  not 
only  operates  as  a test  of  the  sufficiency  of  the  work  as  far  as 
completed,  but  allows  us  to  hold  in  reserve  some  half  a mil- 
lion gallons  of  water,  which  in  case  of  fire,  or  any  interruption 
in  the  main  pipe,  can  at  once  be  made  available. 

And  the  advantage  of  a Reservoir  for  these  purposes  has 
been  several  times  tested,  the  repair  of  a leak  in  the  main 
pipe  having  already  made  it  necessary  to  supply  the  town  en- 
tirely from  the  reservoir  for  several  days,  during  the  month 
of  January,  when  the  large  amount  of  snow  upon  the  ground 
made  it  difficult  to  obtain  water  from  other  sources ; and 
without  which  the  people  on  all  the  higher  streets  must  have 
been  without  a supply.  This  necessity  has  also  been  satis- 
factorily proved  by  the  fact,  that  an  unusual  draft  of  water 
on  the  lower  streets,  such  as  is  used  by  a Hydrant,  or  small 
waste  pipe,  and  even  an  unusual  draft  from  the  service  pipes, 
has  prevented  the  people  on  Watson's  Hill  from  obtaining 
their  necessary  supply.  The  fact  that  this  difficulty  must  in- 
crease with  every  additional  water-taker,  is  abundant  proof  in 
the  minds  of  the  Water  Commissioners,  that  a Reservoir  is 

INDISPENSABLE. 

When  completed  the  Reservoir  will  be  paved  with  stone 
upon  the  surface  of  the  gravel  which  covers  the  lining  on  the 
slopes,  and  will  hold,  if  filled  to  the  highest  water  line,  one 
million^  six  hundred  thousand  gallons  of  water  ^ which  by  its  close 
proximity  to  the  town  will  allow  it  at  all  times  to  be  brought 


18 


WATER  commissioners'  REPORT. 


into  immediate  use,  while  its  protection  upon  three  sides  by 
wide  streets,  and  on  the  other  by  a slope  that  cannot  by  any 
ordinary  arrangement  be  obstructed,  the  whole  of  which  is  to 
be  surrounded  by  a fence  seven  feet  in  height,  will  afford 
reasonable  proof  that  the  purity  of  the  water  shall  remain  un- 
impaired. The  contract  for  the  fencing  has  been  concluded 
with  Mr.  Charles  Whitten,  who  will  execute  his  work  as  soon 
as  the  condition  of  the  Reservoir  will  admit ; and  contracts 
for  paving,  sodding,  and  the  entire  completion  of  the  Reser- 
voir will  doubtless  be  closed  before  our  report  will  come  be- 
fore the  people  to  be  acted  upon. 

The  excavations  from  Russell  Street  to  the  Reservoir,  were 
partly  done  by  the  Messrs.  Hall,  under  their  contract  of  Aug. 
5th,  partly  by  Mr.  Joslyn  as  shown  in  the  account  of  his  la- 
bor, and  the  balance  by  the  employment  of  men  under  the  di- 
rection of  the  Engineer  and  who  were  paid  by  the  Secretary. 

All  of  the  pipe-laying  done  by  the  “Jersey  City  Water 
& Gas  Pipe  Co./'  (through  Mr.  W.  H.  Allen,  their  superin- 
tendent) was  performed  under  the  personal  supervision  of  Mr. 
Davee,  until  his  services  were  required  in  the  construction  of 
the  Reservoir,  and  subsequent  to  that  time  under  the  direction 
of  our  Engineer,  who  by  the  terms  of  the  contract  with  that 
Company  had  been  made  the  general  superintendent  of  their 
work,  subject,  in  case  of  disagreement,  to  the  arbitration  of 
Mr.  Whitwell,  our  consulting  Engineer,  whose  decision  was 
to  be  final.  Happily,  however,  no  occasion  for  such  appeal 
was  presented,  but  our  final  settlement  with  Nathan  Stephens, 
Esq.,  their  authorized  agent,  was  made  upon  terms  mutually 
satisfactory,  and  the  repairs  upon  the  pipes,  which  for  one  year 
from  the  period  of  the  settlement,  (Nov,  28th,  1855,)  are  to 
be  made  at  the  expense  of  that  company,  are  committed  to 
our  hands,  with  a fund  amply  sufficient  to  defray  all  charges 
for  such  repairs,  and  at  the  expiration  of  our  term  of  office 
we  doubt  not  an  arrangement  will  be  made  entirely  satisfac- 
tory to  the  town. 

In  presenting  an  account  of  the  expenditure  of  so  large  an 


WATER  COmilSSIONms'  REPORT,  1& 

amount  of  money  as  has  been  required  to  construct  the  water 
works  in  Plymouth,  there  are  of  necessity  many  things  to 
which  we  cannot  refer  in  detail  without  extending  our  re- 
port beyond  a reasonable  limit,  but  in  the  subjoined  schedules 
in  Appendix  A,  we  have  endeavored  to  make  such  an  analy- 
zation  of  our  appropriations  as  will  enable  the  people  to  judge 
whether  their  money  has  been  expended  with  a judicious  re- 
gard to  their  rights  and  interests  ; and  to  those  details  we  in- 
vite your  attention. 

Our  account  of  expenditures  for  land  damage  is  imperfect, 
from  our  inability  to  adjust  a part  of  the  claims  with  the  land 
holders,  upon  terms  founded  either  in  honor  or  justice  to  the 
town.  The  land  through  which  the  main  pipe  has  been  ex- 
tended from  the  lake  to  our  public  streets,  may  be  deemed  to 
have  been  taken  on  the  21st  of  May  last,  when  the  contractor 
commenced  the  work  of  excavation  under  our  authority,  and 
by  the  terms  of  the  law  of  March  16,  1855,  all  right  to  a 
jury  ceased  on  the  21st  of  December  last ; but  this  considera- 
tion has  in  no  w^ay  influenced  our  determination  to  do  full 
justice  to  those  parties — a right  of  way  over  whose  property 
has  been  taken  for  the  construction  of  these  works.  Most  of 
the  land  on>  this  line  of  grade  is  of  a wild  uncultivated  charac- 
ter, and  under  ordinary  circumstances,  when  divested  of  its 
wood,  which  constitutes  its  chief  worth,  would  hardly  be  val- 
ued at  ten  dollars  per  acre,  and  the  cost  of  some  of  it  is  prob- 
ably less  than  half  that  sum^  where  the  present  proprietors  de- 
mand from  $200  to  $500  per  acre  for  the  right  of  way  over 
their  territory,  the  title  to  which  remains  vested  in  them,  and 
some  of  whom  have  appropriated  the  wood  upon  the  premises 
to  their  own  use,  after  the  expense  of  cutting  it  had  been  in- 
curred by  ourselves.  Much  of  this  land,  before  difficult  of  ac- 
cess, has  been  increased  in  value  by  the  grade  of  the  Water 
Works,  which  at  no  distant  day  will  be  made  a commodious 
and  level  highway,  over  which  the  immense  tract  of  woodland 
in  the  vicinity  of  South  Pond  will  send  its  products  to  our 


20 


WATETR  COMMISSIONERS^  REPORT. 


Tillage,  and  even  now  to  a considerable  extent  it  is  used  Fcwr 
that  purpose ; and  we  have  decided  to  award  in  the  unsettled 
cases,  all  the  damage  which  could  with  any  show  of  reason 
be  claimed  by  the  parties  interested,  and  leave  to  the  town 
a settlement  of  those  claims.  With  Messrs.  Asa  and  Alanson 
Thomas,  through  whose  wood  lots  our  pipes  are  carried,  in  two 
difTerent  places,  besides  half  the  length  of  Mr.  Asa  Thomas's 
farm,  the  Commissioners  agreed  for  the  sum  of  $200,  which 
they  did  not  consider  extravagant  under  the  circumstances  ; 
although  the  great  improvement  to  the  premises,  especially 
when  the  highway  is  changed  to  correspond  with  the  line  of 
grade  will  doubtless  exceed  the  damage  done  to  Mr.  Thomas's 
farm. 

The  cost  of  the  land  for  the  Reservoir,  and  the  right  of  ac- 
cess to  it  for  the  pipes,  exceeded  our  expectations,  but  not 
to  such  an  extent  as  to  warrant  a resort  to  the  terms  of  the 
statute,  and  the  land  of  the  Messrs.  Russell  has  been  conveyed 
to  the  town  by  deed,  and  the  right  of  way  over  the  land  of 
J.  T.  Stoddard  by  an  obligation  of  his  legal  guardian. 

In  pursuance  of  a vote  of  the  town,  granting  us  authority 
for  that  purpose,  as  provided  in  the  Acts  of  the  Legislature, 
the  Commissioners  have  purchased  of  Wm.  Morton  Jackson, 
Esq.,  of  Boston,  for  the  sum  of  sixteen  hundred  dollars,  all 
the  rights  and  privileges  contained  in  the  charter  of  the  “Ply- 
mouth Aqueduct  Corporation,"  established  by  the  General 
Court,  Peb.  15, 1797,  under  which  franchise  the  corporation  had 
full  power  “to  convey  water  by  subterraneous  pipes,  from  any 
part  of  the  Town  Brooks  so  called,  in  said  Town  of  Plymouth, 
into  and  through  any  way  and  street  in  said  town,  and  may 
enter  upon  and  dig  up  any  highway,  or  town  way,  for  the 
purpose  of  sinking  and  repairing  such  pipes  as  may  be  neces- 
sary for  the  purpose  aforesaid  all  of  which  rights  and  priv- 
ileges, are,  by  this  purchase,  secured  to  the  town,  and  to  per- 
petuate which  we  have  constructed  a six  inch  branch  pipe 
from  the  main  into  said  “Town  Brook,"  near  “Deep  Water 
Bridge,"  so  called,  with  the  necessary  gates  and  fixtures  to 


WATER  commissioners'  REPORT- 


21 


enable  the  town  to  avail  itself  of  that  sonree  at  any  time,  by 
merely  closiig^  one  gate  and  raising  another  ; and  from  which 
source  all  the  less  elevated  portions  of  the  village  may  be  sup- 
plied, should  any  unforeseen  accident  cut  otf  the  main  pipe 
and  the  reservoir  at  the  same  time- 

We  consider  this  a most  judicious  and  fortunate  investment, 
not  only  because  it  secures  to  the  town  important  rights  and 
privileges  which  were  vested  in  this  franchise,  but  in  pre- 
venting any  rivalry  that  might  otherwise  exist,  by  the  acts  of 
a private  corporation,  which  for  nearly  sixty  years  has  fur- 
nished our  people  with  water. 

In  closing  this  communication,  we  beg  leave  to  express  our 
most  hearty  acknowledments  to  the  people  of  Plymouth  for 
their  uniform  and  cordial  co-operation  with  m in  the  discharge 
•of  our  oficial  duties,  during  the  period  of  our  appointment.  ’ 
Especially  is  this  aeknowle(%ment  <iue  to  the  Selectmen  and 
Treasurer  of  the  town,  who  have  at  ;aM  times  provided  the 
means  for  the  payment  of  our  drafts  at  sight,  taking  care  at 
the  same  time  that  our  work  should  not  suffer  from  the  un- 
necessary accumulation  of  interest ; and  to  the  peoj^le  in  the 
village,  or  more  thickly  settled  portion  of  the  towm,  whose 
business  or  pleasure  had -so  often  been  Interrupted  by  our  ob- 
:strudions  in  the  public  or  private  streets  of  the  tawn,  and 
.about  the  premises  of  our  citizens.  Eor  the  confidence  they 
have  been  pleasetl  to  repose  in  us,  and  the  aid  they  have  sev- 
‘Orally  afforded  in  the  proseeution  of  the  work  they  are  onti- 
tled  to  our  warmest  thanks. 

We  regret  that  the  severity  cff  the  winter  has  prevented  us 
from  bringing  the  whole  work  to  a close  before  submitting  our 
final  report,  Ibut  when  we  consider  that  the  first  ground  was 
mot  broken  until  the  19th  of  May  last,  that  so  la^ge  an  amount 
<of  work  was  accomplished  -during  the  period  that  intervened 
before  the  suspension  i®f  our  work,  and  that  a structure  so 
Eoi^  demanded  by  tbefiestintereats  of  Plymouth,  is  so  near  its 


22  W~ATER  eOMMISSrONERS’'  report;. 

completion^  we  are  content  te  surrender  our  trust  to  the  peo^ 
pie  of  the  towEj,  and  abide  their  verdict  upon  the  result  of 
our  labor^ 

CHAS.  0.  CHURCHILL^ 

M.  BATES,  Jr.,, 

JOHNSON  DAYEE,, 
DANIEL  J.  LANE, 

E.  C.  SHERMAN, 
WILLIAM  HALL, 

SAMUEL  H.  DOTEN„ 
DAYID  DREW. 


FlhjmoutJi,,  Mamh  1,  18^6. 


APPENDIX  A. 


Statement  of  the  Location,  Size,  and  Number  of  Feet  of  Main 
and  Distributing  Pipe  laid,  and  Faucets  inserted,  to  Febru- 
ary 1,  1856, 


Location. 

Between  what  Streets  or  Places. 

Diameter 
of  pipe 
in  inches. 

No.  of 
Ft.  laid. 

No.  of 
Fau- 
cets. 

Main  line, 

From  Filter  to  Cone 

20 

1 

51 

U (( 

Length  of  Cone, — average  size 

15 

5 

. ( (( 

Cone  to  intersection  of  High  and  Summer  Sts 

10 

15,300 

33 

Russell, 

Summer  and  Court  Streets 

1 10 

1,693 

29 

Branch,  Russell  Street  to  Reservoir 

10 

1,163 

i 

i 

Pipe  re-laid ! 

10 

! 70 

1 

Summer  St., 

High  and  Market 

8 

1,051 

! 46 

Market, 

Sandwich  and  Main 

8 

61Sh 

19 

Main, 

Leyden  and  Court 

8 

657 

34 

Court, 

Main  and  Samoset 

8 

1,724 

58 

Court, 

Samoset  and  Lothrop  Place 

6 

1,278 

16 

Court, 

Lothrop  Place  and  Davis’  Hill 

6 

322 

8 

Samoset, 

Court  and  Rail  Road  Station 

6 

607 

4 

Pleasant, 

Sandwich  and  Franklin 

6 

730 

22 

Sandwich, 

Pleasant  and  South  Green 

6 

986 

26 

Reception  Branch  in  Town  Brook 

6 

15 

Waste  Pipe  into  Murdock’s  Pond 

6 

76 

Sandwich, 

South  Green  and  Wellingsley  Corners 

4 

4,262 

83 

Pleasant, 

Franklin  and  AVashington 

4 

196 

4 

Franklin, 

Pleasant  and  Mayflower  

4 

452 

12 

Mayflower, 

From  Franklin  Street  

4 

278^: 

5 

High, 

Russell  and  Market 

4 

947 

33 

School, 

Market  and  Court  Square 

4 

1,013 

22 

Leyden, 

Main  and  Water 

4 

633 

23 

Middle, 

Main  and  Cole’s  Hill 

4 

610 

17 

North, 

Court  and  Water 

4 

871 

15 

Water, 

Leyden  and  North 

4 

649 

7 

Howland, 

From  Court  Street 

4 

387 

15 

Cushman, 

From  Court  Street 

4 

232  1 

3 

Samoset, 

From  Court  Street 

4 

311 

8 

Court, 

Davis  Hill  to  Kingston  line 

4 

8,965 

85 

Fm  Court  St.  to  Factory  of  Plym.  Cordage  Co. 

4 

382 

4 

Waste  Pipe  into  Factory  Pond 

4 

874 

Mayflower, 

From  4 inch  pipe 

2 

266 

(> 

Washington, 

Pleasant  and  Mayfl  )wer 

2 

468 

11 

Pleasant, 

Washington  and  South 

2 

360 

7 

Massasoit, 

From  Mayflower  Street 

2 

196 

5 

South, 

Sandwich  and  Pleasant 

2 

318 

8 

From  Pleasant  Street  south 

2 

459 

6 

Stephens’  Lane 

2 

120 

1 

Commercial, 

Sandwich  and  Emerald 

2 

314 

11 

Emerald, 

Commercial  and  AVater 

2 

291 

9 

Water,  * 

1 Sandwich  and  Union 

2 

629 

18 

Pleasant  St. PI  From  Pleasant  Street 

2 

280 

6 

Spring, 

1 Summer  and  High 

2 

296 

11 

Bartlett  Place,' High  and  Russell 

2 

575 

12 

24 


WATER  COMMISSIONERS  REPORT, 


Statement y §-c.,  continued. 


Location. 

Between  what  Streets  or  Places. 

Diameter 
of  pipe 
In  inches. 

No.  of 
feet  laid. 

No.  of 
Faucets. 

Alley, 

Middle  to  Cole’s  Hill 

2 

282 

5 

Cole’s  Hill, 

Leyden  and  North 

2 

1,051 

14 

Jackson  PL, 

From  North  Street 

2 

583i 

13 

Church  St., 

From  Town  Square 

2 

163 

6 

Willard  PL, 

From  Summer  Street 

2 

186 

7 

So.  Russell  St., 

From  School  Street 

2 

168 

4 

Drew  Place, 

From  Court  Street 

2 

378 

10 

Samoset  Street, 

From  4 inch  pipe  west 

2 

336 

6 

Rail  Road, 

From  6 inch  pipe  to  Engine  House . . . 

2 

239 

Cushman  Street, 

From  4 inch  pipe  to  Allerton  Place.. . 

2 

469 

10 

Allerton  Place, 

From  Cushman  Street  north 

2 . 

249 

5 

Lothrop  Place, 

From  Court  Street 

2 

761 

8 

Hall’s  Place, 

From  Court  Street 

2 

787 

6 

At  North  Plymouth 

2 

471 

To  A.  L.  Russell’s  and  Wm.  T.  Davis’ 

2 

291 

Recapitulation. 


Number  of  feet  of  20  inch  laid 

51 

(C 

Cone 

5 

(( 

(( 

10  inch 

18,226 

cc 

(( 

8 “ 

(C 

4,050^ 

(C 

<( 

6 “ 

(C 

3,984 

(C 

<( 

4 “ 

(C 

20,276 

(C 

(( 

2 “ 

cc 

11,086J 

Total, 

Number  of  1-2  inch  Faucets  457 

“ ‘‘  5-8  “ 316 

“ “ 8-4  “ ‘‘  163 

((  ((  ((  ((  ^ 

Total,  836 


To  this  line  of  pipes  are  attached  various  branches,  for  such 
extensions  as  must  sooner  or  later  be  made,  to  avoid  the  ne- 
cessity of  disturbing  the  pipe  hereafter,  to  the  inconvenience 
of  those  who  depend  upon  this  supply.  In  all  the  extensions 
in  streets  and  places  north  of  “Cold  Spring,**  as  well  as  in  sev- 
eral streets  and  places  on  Watson’s  Hill  and  in  other  parts  of 
the  town,  the  assurance  has  been  given  to  the  Commissioners 
that  the  number  of  water  takers  should  yield  a water  rent 
equal  to  six  per  cent,  upon  the  cost  of  such  extensions. 


APPENDIX  A. 


25 


Statement  showing  the  Number  of  Families,  Stores,  Public 
Houses,  §*c.,  supplied  with  Water  to  the  day  of  Febru- 
ary, 1856,  with  the  Water  Rates  applied,  as  established  by 
the  Water  Commissioners, 


Number. 

Rate. 

Aggregate. 

Private  families 

36 

$4.00 

S144.00 

((  (( 

42 

5.00 

210.00 

u u 

153 

6.00 

918.00 

(<  (( 

92 

7.00 

644.00 

n u 

7 

8.00 

56.00 

Public  Houses 

2 

10.00 

20.00 

((  (( 

1 

15.00 

15.00 

((  u 

1 

Restaurants 

2 

4.00 

8.00 

1 

3.00 

3.00 

Provision  Markets 

3 

5.00 

15.00 

Dry  Goods  Stores 

1 

3,00 

3.00 

Offifins 

1 

3.00 

3.00 

Barbers’  Shops 

2 

4.00 

8^00 

Bakeries 

1 

Shoe  Manufactories 

1 

4.00 

4.00 

((  (( 

1 

3.00 

3.00 

Bath  Rooms 

5 

2.00 

10.00 

Water  Closets 

... 

3 

3.00 

9.00 

Street  Sprinklers 

22 

2,00 

44.00 

Private  Stables, 

7 

2.00 

14.00 

(( 

3 

3.00 

9,00 

((■ 

1 

4.00 

4.00 

(( 

3 

5.00 

15.00 

Livery  Stables 

1 

26.00 

25.00 

((  (( 

I 

15.00 

15.00 

Stables  for  Neat  Cattle... . 

5 

1.00 

5.00 

a (( 

1 

2.00 

2.00 

It  (i 

1 

3.00 

a.oo 

Fish  Markets 

1 

10.00 

10.00 

0.  C.  & F.  R.  Railroad — 

100.00 

100.00 

Gas  Light  Co 

1 

$2,320.00 


To  the  above  is  to  be  added  the  income  for  supply  of  ship- 
ping, building  purposes,  &c.,  for  which  provision  has  been 
made,  amounting  to  not  less  than  $100  per  annum,  and  may 
indeed  be  safely  estimated  at  a much  larger  sum,  and, 
with  the  places,  for  the  supply  of  which  the  price  has  not  yet 
been  permanently  fixed,  will  make  an  annual  income  for 
Water  Rent  of  not  less  than  $2,500.00  already  secured,  which 
must  be  increased  at  least  fifty  per  cent,  during  the  present 
year. 


:26  WATER  commissioners’  report, 

SERVICE  PIPE. 


The  following  service  pipes  have  been  laid  under  the  direc- 
tion of  the  Commissioners,  and  the  sums  there  specified  charged 
to  the  several  estates,  persons,  or  corporations  named,  being 
the  amount  which  exceeds  the  expense  of  carrying  the  water  to 
the  curbstone,  or  within  ten  feet  of  each  water  takers’  premises. 


John  B.  Atwood, $3.24 


Wra.T.  Davis, 26.62 

S.  H.  Doten, 4.13 


Robert  Brown, 3.90 

James  Barnes, 5 60 

Miss  Mary  Bartlett, 11.62 

VVm.  L.  Battles, 8.86 

Benj.  Bramhall, 6.72 

Estate  John  Battles, 27.87 

J.  D.  Baxter, 2.24 

Stephen  P.  Brown, 8.14 

Corban  Barnes, 17.66 

Andrew  Bartlett, 1.52 

Richard  W.  Bagnell, 2.00 

NathT  Bartlett,  2d, 3.12 

Ephraim  Bartlett , 3.83 

Truman  Bartlett, 5.36 

South  worth  Barnes — cement, 5C 

Mrs.  Levi  Barnes, 11.79 

E.  S.  Bartlett, 18.4^ 

N.  0 Barnes, 2.08 

Miss  Elizabeth  S.  Bagnell, 4.8C 

Wm.  B.  Barnes, 2.92 

M.  Bates,  Jr., 14.51 

E.  B.  Bramhall, 80 

Heman  Cobb,, 3.50 

Miss  Eliza  Clarke, 11.92 

Wm.  Churchill, 3. 33 

deorge  R.  Callaway, 3.04 

Mrs.  Jacob  Covington, 2.60 

Barnabas  Churchill, 8.88 

Cr.  E.  Cunningham, 7.20 

R.  E.  Cotton, 9.93 

Chas.  0.  Churchill, 2.52 

George  G.  Dyer, 13.28 

David  Drew, 5.10 

Mrs.  Priscilla  Drew, 2 24 

Atwood  L.  Drew, 2. 20 

Wm.  R.  Drew, 2.75 

James  Doten, 4.50 

Geo.  A.  Drew, 10  64 

Mrs.  Wm.  Davis, 19.76 

Sarah  J.  Davee, 9.70 

Jas.  A.  Danforth, 2.50 

Johnson  Davee, 27.41 

Thos.  Diman, 1.60 

James  Diman, 2 24 

James  Drew, 3 40 

Chas.  G.  Davis, 36.25 

“ “ “ Tenements,  7.04 


Oliver  Edes, 1.04 

Harrison  Finney, 3.54 

J.  C.  Fuller — cement, 33 

Ezra  Finney,. 4.60 

Granville  Gardner, 13  07 

Albert  G.  Goodwin 2.50 

B.  H.  Holmes...... 2 90 

Nath’l  Holmes,... 16.92 

Jason  Hart, 1.54 

Adiel  Harvey, 3.62 

B.  Hathaway, 6.30 

Joseph  Holmes,  3d, 9.26 

J.  VV  Hodgkins, 3.33 

NathT  L.  Hedge, 9.43 

James  Hall, 4.88 

Wm.  Hall, 5.12 

J.  & W.  Hall, 23.39 

Reuben  Hall, 8.40 

Mrs  Hannah  Howard, 2.50 

Jas.  L.  Hunt, 12.02 

Mrs.  Nathan  Hayward,  .......  28.58 

Richard  Holmes, 25.81 

C.  L.  Howard, 6.24 

C.  B.  Irish,  for  “Bradford  House,”  25.31 

Henry  F.  Jackson, 2.80 

Mrs.  M.  B.  Jackson, 9.64 

Abraham  Jackson, 10.42 

“ “ residence  of 

D.  Seavey, 19.74 

A.  Jackson,  “of 

Thurber  and  Spear, 10.55 

A.  Jackson,  at  Jackson  Place,. . . 35.08 

Estate  Salisbury  Jackson, 23.00 

Robert  B.  Leach, 80 

Jacob  H.  Loud, 21.55 

Leander  Lovell, 17.81 

Phineas  Leach, 6.40 

Anthony  Morse, 4.57 

Mrs.  Seth  Morton, 1.24 

Chas.  May, 19.68 

Mrs.  Mary  Nelson, 2.90 


APPENDIX  'A. 


27 


PJIisha  Nelson, 20.37 

Chas.  Nelson, 11.55 

John  Nickerson, G.6G 

Wm.  Nelson, 1G.20 

Win.  Nickerson, 7.28 

2iaben  Olney, 15.84 

First  Parish — Rev.  J.  Kendall,..  . 20.66 

Chas.  S.  Peterson, 80 

Gideon  Perkins,  Jr 4.88 

Mrs.  Plympton;  C.  G.  Davis,  Ag’t,  8.46 

Plymouth  Cordage  Co, 243.99 

John  Paine, 14  81 


N.  B.  Robbins, 

G«?o.  Simmons, 

1.  N.  Stoddard, 

Thos.  Spear, 

N.  B Spooner, 

George  Simmons,  Jr,, 
William  II.  Spear,. . . 
Wm.  D.  Simmons,.  . . 
Stafford  Sturtevant,. . 

Wm.  Sylvester, 

Mrs.  John  Sylvester,. 

E.  C.  Sherman, 

JMrs.  Isaac  Sampson,. 


25.75 

4.63 

5.84 
7.80 
7.22 

.80 

1.84 
9.35 

12  17 
3.62 

2.90 

9.90 

2.16 


Caleb  Rider,. — 

Mrs.  Wm.  Randall, 

“ Thos  Russell, 

Henry  Raymond, 

Andrew  L.  Russell, — 

L.  T.  Robbins, 

Nath’l  Rus.'«ell  & Co, 

Miss  M.  H.  Russell, 

John  Russell, — 

Mrs.  B.  F.  Russell, 

Luther  Ripley, 

Josiah  Robbins,..  

A.  L.  Russell  and  Wm.  T.  Davis, 
O.  C.  & F.  R.  Railroad — Pipes, 
Hydrant, &c,  


10.30  VVm.  Thomas,. 

4.96 Mrs.  Jno.  B.  Thomas,. 

15.84 E.  S.  Turner, 

2.88  Nahum  Thomas,  

8.82 E.  G.  Turner, 


4,20 
6 97 
2.24 
1.48 
10.29 


22.90 

33.40 

10.20 

7.00 

2.50 

3.33 

11.50 

84.92 

227.27 


David  Turner,  including  plumbing,  34.68 


Miss  D.  L.  lArner, 7.99 

Sam’l  Talbot, 3.36 

Phinehas  Wells, 15.88 

Harvey  Weston, 10.72 

Nath’l  Wood,  Jr, 5.87 

Timothy  Wheeler, 11.52 

Benj.  Weston, 2 90 

Wait  Wadsworth, 9.55 


$1847.72 


Of  this  amount,  the  sum  of  $691.85,  has  been  collected, 
and  placed  to  the  credit  of  the  work,  and  the  balance  out- 
standing, (as  well  as  the  water  rents)  the  Commissioners  have 
made  it  the  business  of  Mr.  Churchill,  chairman  of  the  Board, 
to  collect,  and  it  will  doubtless  be  received  and  credited,  be- 
fore our  Keport  will  have  to  be  acted  upon  by  the  town,  di- 
minishing by  this  sum  the  aggregate  amount  of  expenditures, 
these  amounts  having  been  included  in  the  several  items  of 
our  construction  account. 


28 


WATER  commissioners’  REPORT, 


Statement  showing  the  whole  amount  of  Expenditures  of  the- 
Water  Commissioners  to  February  15,  1856  ; and  also  of 
all  liabilities  incurred  on  account  of  the  construction  of  the 
Plymouth  Water  Works. 

EXPENDITURES. 


$5,287.06 

144.50  55,431.56 


Paid  “Jersey  City  Water  pipe  Co.”  for  57,679  feet  of 
main  and  distributing  pipe,  inclusive  of  cement, 
pipe  laying,  branches,  &c.,  $35,145.48 

“ do.  for  13,226  feet  Lined  Service  Pipe,  1,424  42  $36,569.90 
“ Freight  on  Cement,  Pipe,  &c.,  from  Jersey  City,  1,333  92 

“ E C.  Sherman,  chartering  Vessels  in  New  York,  15.00 

“ Johnson  Davee,  superintending  pipe  laying,  258.00  $38,176.82 

“ For  labor  of  men  by  the  day  on  trenches 
for  pipe,  as  per  time-book,  receipted, and 
sundry  bills, 

“ William  Hall,  72|  days  superintending 
trenching,  a $2, 

“ J.  & W.  Hall  excavation  of  20,363  feet, 
trench,  at  lOi  c, 

“ J.  C.  Water  Pipe  Co.  filling  28,178  feet 
trench,  at  4 c, 

“ J.  C.  Water  Pipe  Co.  filling  28,375  feet 
trench,  at  3 c, 

“ E.  H.  Joslyn  tilling  trenches,  &c.,  330.12  $9,878  16 

“ E.  H.  Joslyn  for  62,4884  yds  Earth  Excavation  on  main 
line,  at  14|  c,  $9,060  80 

“ E.  H.  Joslyn  “ 23  30-100  yds  loose  rock  at  50  c,  11.65 

“ “ “ “ 12  48-100  “ solid  “ at  1.00,  12  48 

“ “ “ 20  24-100  Perches  Culvert  Masonry  a $2,  40.48 

“ “ “ Excavation  of  canal  into  Great  So.  Pond,  227.31  $9,352.72 


1,127,12. 

851.25 


2,138  11 


1,978.37 

330.12 


“ E H.  Joslyn  for  18,997  78-100  yds  Earti>  Excavation, 
embankment,  and  Pipe  Trench  at  Reservoir  at  14  c,  $2,659.69 
“ E.  H.  Joslyn  labor,  grading  embankment  and  street,  242.26 
“ Cost  of  Gate  House,  Flume,  Screens,  Filtering  appar- 
atus, with  cost  of  Lumber,  Piling,  Pumping  water, 
and  labor  at  South  Pond, 


“ J C.  W.  Pipe  Co.  30  Stop  Gates,  inclusive  of 
setting,  &c.,  $1,094.00 

“ J.  C.  W.  Pipe  Co.,  836  Faucets  inserted,  957  89 
“ “ “ Cones,  Tools,  &c.,  on  hand,  29.25  $2,08114 

“ Sylvester  & Cram  and  A.  J.  Morse  for  Gates  78.25 

“ A.  Stanwood,  Castings  for  Gate  Tops,  157.50 

“ Sylvester  & Cram,  36  Fire  Hydrants,  $648.00 

“ So.  Boston  Iron  Co.,  Hydrant  Bends,  Tops,  &c.  248  12 

“ L.  Locke,  castings  for  Hydrants,  9.47 

“ Freight  on  Hydrants  and  Castings,  * 17. 43 

“ S.  Boston  Iron  Co.,  Iron  Pipes  in  Reservoir,  18.54 

“ Extra  Faucets  with  Express  bills,  &c.,  13  25 

“ Lumber  and  Labor  on  boxes  for  Hydrants,  Gates,  &c  , 295.84 

Truckage,  Horse  Hire,  Team  work,  &c., 

“ Franchise  and  Rights  of  Plymouth  Aqueduct 
Corporation,  $1,600.00 

“ Labor  for  repairs,  rent  &c.,  97.59 

“ Interest  on  $50,000  Water  Scrip  to  Dec.  1,  1855,  $1,500.00 

“ “ to  Plymouth  Aqueduct  Corporation,  6.13 

“ J.  H.  Loud,  cash  advanced,  3.10 


$2,901.95 

$1,430.25 

$2,316.89 


$1,250.65 

$911.80 

$1,697.59 


$,1509.23 


APPENDIX  A. 


29 


'Pwd  J.  A.  Robbins,  Clay  for  Reservoir,  S300.00 

“ Chas.  Gurney  dravring  same  to  Reservoir,  1,473.29 

“ J.  & W.  Hall  filling  clay  pit,  140.00 

Bills  for  labor  of  men,  lumber,  tools,  overseeing, 

&c. , at  Reservoir,  1,918.50 

“ Advertising  and  Printing, 

“ Labor  on  Service  l^pes,  setting  Hydrants,  Plumbing,  &c., 

“ Travelling  Expenses  to  Rockland,  &c.. 

Expenses  for  repairing  streets,  replacing  pavements,  blacksmiths 
lulls,  including  sundry  goods  furnish^  on  different  portions 
of  the  work  by  Wrn.  R.  Drew,  John  Washburn,  N.  Russell  & 
Co.,  and  others, 

land  damage  acc’t,  N.  & A.  Russell,  land  for  Reservoir,  S900.00 
“ J.  T.  Stoddard,  right  over  land  for  entering  Reservoir,  200.00 
John  Gooding,  land  on  main  line,  25.00 

■“  Samuel  Barnes,  “ 4.75 

“ Lemuel  Stephens,  “ “ 17.50 

“ Elias  Cox,  “ 67.60 

James  Collins,  “ between  ponds,  50.00 

“ Expenses  of  Office  Rent,  Stationery,  Account  Books, 

copies,  &c.,  S6S.70 

Pay  of  eight  Water  Commissioners  to  March,  1856,  at  S75 

each,*  600.00 

Pay  of  J.  H.  Loud,  Esq.,  Attorney  and  Counsellor,  100.00 


Miscellaneous  labor,  including  the  clearing  of  line  of 
grade,  lighting  streets,  C.  O.  Churchill  superintend- 
ing Service  Pipe  laying,  setting  Hydrants,  and  other 
labor  on  construction  account, 

“ W.  S.  Whitwell,  Esq.,  consulting  Engineer  for  advice 


and  services  as  per  original  agreement,  $500.00 

“ W.  S.  Whitwell,  advice  and  services  for  extensions 

of  work,  300.00 

“ M.  Bates,  Jr.,  16U  days  as  Engineer  at  $3,  484.50 

“ ‘‘  “ labor  of  Assistant  15  days  a $1.25,  18.75 

“ Chas.  C.  Doten  40  2-3  days  at  $3,  122.00 

“ Joseph  Smith  36  days  with  2 Assistants,  228.50 

“ “ Incidental  expenses,  3.91 


$3,831.79 

72.42 

1,509.46 

108.76 


$1,236.37 


$1,264.75 


$768 .70 


$938.36 


$1,657.66 


Aggregate, 

Deduct  Draft  to  Jersey  City  Water  Pipe  Co.  dated 
Nov.  28,  1855,  payable  in  one  year  from  date,  with  inter- 
est, the  same  being  a guaranty  for  repairs. 


$80,814  33 

$1,000.00 


Total  amount  paid  of  Expenditures, 

CASH  ACCOUNT. 

CASH 

For  amount  of  proceetls  for  sale  of  Scrip, 

“ “ from  Service  Pipe  Co., 


CASH. 

By  amount  of  expenditures  on  construction  account,  interest,  Old 
Aqueduct,  &c.,  as  per  foregoing  statement, 

Cash  on  deposit  in  Old  Colony  Bank, 


$79,814.33 


DR. 

$81,991.78 

691.85 


$82,683.63 

CR. 

$79,814.33 

2;869.30 


$82,683.63 


♦Mr.  Kendall  W.  King  not  having  met  with  the  Board,  no  olaim  has  been  presented  for 
payment. 


30  WATER  COM^fISSIONERS’  REPORTj 


Plymouth,  February  12,  1856. 

The  undersigned.  Selectmen  of  the  town  of  Plymouth,  in 
obedience  to  a vote  of  the  town  passed  on  the  17th  day  of 
November,  1855,  have  carefully  examined  the  foregoing  state- 
ment of  the  Board  of  Water  Commissioners  of  the  amount  ex- 
pended in  the  construction  of  the  Water  Works,  and  find 
every  item  properly  vouched,,  and  said  statement  to  be  fully 
verified. 

JACOB  H.  LOUD,  ) Selectmen 
WM.  T.  DAVIS,  } of 

E.  C.  TURNER.  ) Plymouth. 


LIABILITIES. 


Due  Jersey  City  Water  Pipe  Co.,  Nov.  28,  1856, $1,060.00' 

Contract  with  Chas.  Whitten  for  fencing  Reservoir, $325.00' 

“ “ J.  &.  W,  Hall  2100  yds  paving  “ at  33  cts.,  693.00 

Estimate  of  cost  of  finishing,  lining,  sodding,  and  completing 

Reservoir, 900.00  $1,918.00 

Due  Asa  & Alanson  Thomas,  land  damage, 200  OO' 

Award  to  Mrs.  Joseph  Whiting  “ “ 10.00 

“ “ Estate  formerly  Seth  Harlow’s, 40  00 

“ “ Freeman  Morton, 5.00 

“ “ F.  B.  &G.  W.  Cobb, 25.00 

“ “ Ellis  Barnes, 125.00 

“ “ Estate  of  Henry  Finney, 4.00 

“ “ Richard  Holmes, 42  00 

“ “ Mrs.  Lucy  Goddard, 3 50 

“ “ Jeremiah  Farris,.. 28.00 

“ “ Nath’l  C.  Laninan, 8 00 

“ Mrs.  Brown,  25  00 

“ “G.W.  Virgin, 5 27  $520.77 

“ Estimate  for  wood  Culvert  in  E.  Cox’s  swamp, 20.00 

“ “ contingent  Expenses,  including  collecting 

outstanding  demands,  water  rents,  &c., 500.00 


S4, 018.77 

Amount  of  Expenditures,  $79,814  33 

Whole  Amount,  $83,833.10 


Deduct  amount  for  Old  Aqueduct, .$1,600.00 

“ expenses  on  do 97.59 

“ amount  of  interest  paid, 1,509.23 

“ stuck  on  hand, 640.53 

amount  due  for  service  pipe,  &c., 1,155.87  $5,003.22 

Total  cost  of  Construction  of  Water  Works, $78,829.88 


APPENDIX  A. 


31 


If  from  this  sum  the  amount  received  and  due  for  water 
rents  is  also  deducted,  the  above  amount  will  be  reduced  to 
about  $77,029.88  ; but  as  the  water  rents  have  not  been 
brought  into  the  construction  account,  it  has  been  deemed 
advisable  to  make  that  amount  available  for  the  payment  of 
interest  which  will  be  due  June  1,  1856. 


STOCK  OK  HAND. 


92  feet  10  inch  pipe,  valued  at $61.67 

49  “ 8 “ “ “ 25  97 

18  “ 6 “ “ “ 5.40 

98  “ 4 “ “ “ 25.97 

92^“  2 “ “ “ 13.52 

One  4 inch  Iron  Gate  “ 27.00 

One  2 “ “ “ “ 14.00 

One  Hydrant  “ 18.00 

One  Hydrant  Bend  “ 3 50 

2 Faucets  “ 2.75 

2 “Corporation  Faucets,”  drill,  brace,  &c., 3.00 

2 Iron  Mandrels,  Cones,  &c  , for  lining  pipe, 8.25 

21  bbls  Cement  in  Storehouse, SI  50 

About  4000  feet  lined  service  pipe,. 400  00  $640  53; 


One  “ Hydrant  Top, 


Sundry  Picks,  Shovels,  Bars,  Lanterns,  &c., 


32 


WATER  COMMfSSIONERS  REPORT. 


LIST  OF  WATER  TAKERS. 

The  following  is  a list  of  the  persons,  corporations  or  places 
'Connected  with  the  pipes  as  “Water  Takers,”  whose  water 
rents,  at  the  rates  provided  in  the  Water  Tariff  established 
'by  the  Commissioners,  amounts  to  the  sum  of  $2,434.00  per 
annum,  which  amount  is  collected  semi-annually  and  placed 
to  the  credit  of  the  Water  Works,  independent  of  the  con- 
struction account,  and  will  be  available  for  the  payment  of 
interest  on  Water  Scrip  as  it  shall  fall  due,  the  amount  al- 


ready collected  and 

Henry  G.  Andrews, 

John  B.  Atwood, 

'Wm.  Atwood, -2nd, 
Thomas  Atwood, 

'Wm.  B.  Alexander, 

Richard  VV.  Bagnell, 
Benj.  Barrett, 

■Isaac  Brewster, 

Moses  Bates,  Jr., 

Mrs.  John  Battles, 

Allen  Ballard, 

Edward  P.  Bates, 

Wm.  Bartlett, 

Wra.  B.  Barnes, 

Mrs.  Mary  Bartlett, 

N.  Carver  Barnes. 

Wm.  Barnes, 

Truman  Bartlett, 

Corban  Barnes, 
Southworth  Barnes, 
Stephen  M.  Burbank, 
Bradford’s  Hotel. 

Mrs.  Levi  Barnes, 

George  W.  Barnes, 
Ephraim  Bartlett, 

John  C.  Barnes, 

Stephen  P.  Brown, 

Ellis  B.  Bramhall, 

Mrs.  Judah  Bartlett, 
Andrew  Bartlett, 

Wm.  L.  Battles, 

Bake  House, 

E.  Winslow  Bradford, 
Amasa  Bartlett, 

Lamed  S.  B.  Barrows, 
James  Barnes, 

Thomas  B Bartlett, 
Robert  Brown, 

Wra.  Bradford, 

Stephen  Bartlett, 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  Bacon, 
Antipas  Brigham, 
Edward  Bartlett, 


SO  deposited  being  $ 

Benj.  Bramhall, 

Michael  Beach, 

Josiah  D.  Baxter, 

Walter  Burbank, 
Winslow  Bradford, 

Wm.  Bishop, 

Simon  R.  Burgess, 

John  Bryan, 

Ellis  Bames,  Jr. , 

Mrs.  Jacob  Covington, 
Guilford  E.  Cunningham, 
Henry  Carter, 

Joseph  Cushman, 
Barnabas  Churchill, 
James  Collins, 

James  B.  Collingwood, 
Winslow  Cole, 

John  Churchill, 

Roland  E.  Cotton, 

House  of  Correction, 
George  Churchill, 

Aaron  Cornish, 

John  D Churchill, 

Benj.  H.  Crandon, 

Wm.  Churchill, 

Albert  C.  Chandler, 
Heman  Cobb, 

Miss  Eliza  Clarke, 

John  E.  Churchill, 

Robert  Co  wen, 

George  R.  Calloway, 
James  Cox, 

Joseph  W.  Collingwood, 
John  B.  Collingwood, 

Job  Churchill, 

Henry  L Chubbuck 
Sylvanus  H.  Churchill, 
Thomas  Churchill, 

Benj.  Cobb, 

Charles  Churchill, 

Martin  Church, 

Amasa  Churchill, 

Georgo  A.  Drew, 


,273.78. 

Wra.  T.  Drew, 
Winslow  Drew, 

Wm.  R.  Drew, 
Johnson  Davee, 

James  Doten. 

Atwood  L Drew, 

Jas.  A.  Danforth, 
Thomas  Diman, 
Richard  B.  Dunham, 
Lysander  Dunham, 
David  Drew, 

Is.iac  Davee, 

Allen  Danforth, 

G.  G.  Dyer, 

C.  G.  Davis, 

Mrs.  Wm.  Davis, 

S.  H.  Doten, 

Jas.  Diman, 

Mrs.  Priscilla  Drew, 
Mrs  DeWare, 

Mrs.  Ichabod  Davee, 
Ellis  Drew, 

Wm.  T.  Davis, 

Abbot  Drew, 

Samuel  N.  Dunham, 
Stimpson  Dunton, 
James  Drew, 

Davis’  Hall. 

David  Diman. 

Calvin  Damon, 

Samuel  N.  Diman, 
Elisha  Do'.en, 

Joseph  Dunham, 

Mrs.  Hannah  Dunham, 
B inlett  Ellis, 

George  F.  Ellis, 

Nath’l  Ellis, 

Lewis  Eddy, 

Oliver  Edes,, 

Adoniram  Ellis, 

Josiah  C.  Fuller, 
Harrison  Finney, 
Ephraim  Finney,  Jr., 
Jeremiah  Farris, 


Ezra  Finney, 

Elkamih  C.  Finney, 
George  P.  Fowler, 
James  Frothingham, 
Mrs.  Eliza  Fuller, 
Robert  Fuller, 
Nathaniel  Gooding. 
Granville  Gardner, 
Tiraoti  y Gordon, 

Gas  Light  Co., 

Eben’r  S Griffin, 

John  T.  Hall, 

Joseph  W.  Hodgkins, 
John  Hall, 

Reuben  Hall, 

Wm.  Hall, 

James  Hall, 

James  L.  Hunt, 

B H.  Holmes, 

Joseph  Holmes,  3d, 
Benj.  Hubbard, 

Nath’l  Holmes, 
Barnabas  Hedge, 

Mrs.  Nathan  Hayward, 
Benjamin  Harvey, 

Jason  Hart, 

Richard  W.  Holmes, 
Mrs.  Hannah  Howard, 
Charles  Holmes, 

Sylvan  us  Harvey, 

Adiel  Harvey, 

Benjamin  Hathaway, 
Allen  Holmes, 

Robert  Hutchinson, 
Lemuel  Holmes, 

Nath’l  Harlow, 

George  A Hathaway, 
I^ewis  Hall, 

Wendell  Hall, 

Oliver  Holmes, 

Jacob  Howland, 

Gideon  Holbrook,  Jr., 
Albert  Hedge, 

Caleb  Holmes, 

Winslow  S.  Holmes, 
Benj.  Hewes, 

Sam’lS.  Howland, 

Wm.  H.  Jackson, 

Mrs.  Mercy  B.  Jackson, 
Jacob  Jackson, 

Edwin  F.  Jackson, 

J.  B.  Johnson, 
Abraham  Jackson, 
Isaac  Jackson, 

Mrs.  Sarah  Jenkins, 
Putnam  Kimball,  Jr., 
James  Kendall, 

James  Kendrick, 
Thomas  Kinsley, 
Stephen  Lucas, 


APPENDIX  A. 


Phineas  Leach, 

D.  J.  Lane, 

Nath'l  C.  Lanman, 
Thomas  Loring, 

Jacob  II.  Loud, 

Leander  Lovell, 
Augustus  J.  Lucas, 
Isaac  J.  Lucas. 

Ellis  Lanman, 

J.  N.  Leonard, 

Anthony  Morse, 
Mansion  House, 

Charles  May, 

Chas.  T.  May, 

!Mrs.  Seth  Morton, 
Henry  Mills, 

\Vm.  Morey, 

Wm.  Morey,  Jr., 

Mrs.  Priscilla  Morton, 
Warren  S.  Macomber, 
Joseph  T.  Mitchell, 
Town  Market, 

'riiomas  Murray, 
Jeremiah  Murray, 
Elisha  Nelson, 

Mrs.  Polly  Nelson, 

John  Nickerson, 

Charles  Nelson, 

[ Wm.  Nickerson, 

Wm.  Nelson, 

Zaben  OIney. 

Job  B Oldham, 

John  Perkins, 

Sylvanus  Paulding, 
Gideon  Perkins,  Jr., 
Lewis  Perry, 

Plym.  Cordage  Co., 
Lucius  Pratt, 

Thomas  Pitman, 

Chas.  A,  S.  Perkins, 

; Charles  Peterson, 

\\‘m.  Paulding, 

John  N.  Prouty, 

John  B Paulding, 
Foster  Perkins, 

John  Russell, 

Mrs.  Wm.  Randall, 
Caleb  Rytler, 

Nathan  B Robbins, 
Leavitt  T.  Robbins, 

Mrs.  Thomas  Russell, 
Mrs.  Bridgham  Russell, 
Luther  Ripley, 

Charles  Raymond, 
Natlrl  Russell, 

Wm.  S.  Russell, 

Dan’l  Ryder, 

Daniel  Ryder,  Jr., 
Josiah  Robbins, 

N.  Russell  & Co., 


33 


Henry  Raymond, 

George  Ryder, 

Edmund  Robbins, 

0.  C.  & F.  R.  Rail  Road, 
Andrew  L.  Russell, 
Josiah  A.  Robbins, 

Calvin  Ripley, 

Isaac  B.  Rich, 

Francis  H.  Robbins, 

Sam’l  Rickard, 

Edmund  Robbins,  Jr., 

E.  C.  Sherman, 

Wm.  Sylvester, 

Mrs.  John  Sylvester, 
Samoset  House, 

Mrs.  Wm.  Simmons, 

Wm.  D.  Simmons, 

Wm.  H Smoot, 

Stafford  Sturtevant, 

1.  N.  Stoddard, 

Ichabod  Simmons, 
Thomas  Saunders, 

Mrs.  Alonzo  Scudder, 
Samuel  Sherman, 

i David  Seavey, 

I Ephraim  Spooner, 

Samuel  Shaw, 

Wm.  Sampson, 

N.  B.  Spooner, 

James  Spooner, 

Jabez  Swift, 

Jacob  Southworth, 

Bourne  Spooner, 

George  Simmons,  Jr  , 
Wm.  H.  Spear, 

Thomas  Spear,  Jr., 
Charles  Sampson, 

Sam’l  Samp'son, 

Charles  Suiith, 

James  A.  Sylvester, 

Win.  B Tribble, 

Lorenzo  D Tribble, 
Misses  D L.  & S.  Turner, 
E.  S.  Turner, 

E C Turner, 

James  Thurber, 

Mrs.  John  B Thomas, 
George  N.  Thomas, 
Samuel  Talbot, 

]\Irs.  Lydia  Torrey, 

David  Turner, 

John  Tribble, 

Nahum  Thomas, 

Ezra  Thomas, 

George  W.  Virgin, 
Phinehas  Wells, 

Mrs  Mary  Warren, 
Benjamin  Weston, 

NathJ  Wood,  Jr, 

Harvey  Weston, 


3 


34 


WATER,  commissioners’  REPORT, 


C’h;is.  Whitten, 

Wtiitt^n,  Jr., 
('ha^.  II.  Weston, 
ilonry  Weston, 

Wait  Wadsworth, 
Tir)>otliy  Wheeler, 
U’lii.  VVeston, 


M'^eston  & Atwood, 
Win.  0.  S.  Wells, 
Whii.  Windsor, 
(xeorge  Whicinj^, 
Mrs.  EHz  i Williams, 
Miles  S.  VV’'eston, 
Ervin  Webster, 


Harvey  W.  Weston, 
Coomer  Vv'eston,  Jr., 
John  '.V.i(*e, 

Willard  Wood, 

Whitinii;. 

Frames  II.  VV'eston, 
George  1).  Young. 


PLYMOUTH  WATER  SCRIP. 

The  Selectmen  of  the  town  of  Plymouth,  pursuant  to  a vote 
passed  at  a legal  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  said  town,  held 
00  the  fifth  day  of  May,  in  the  year  one  thousand  eight  hun- 
dred and  fifty-five,  issued  and  sold  scrip  or  certificates  of 
debt  in  the  name  of  said  inhabitants,  called  Plymouth  Water 
Scrip,  to  the  amount  of  fifty  thousand  dollars,  in  sums  as  fol- 
lows, for  the  purpose  of  defraying  the  expense  of  the  construc- 
tion of  an  Aqueduct  as  authorized  by  the  351st  chapter  of 
the  Statutes  of  1854  and  the  61st  chapter  of  the  Statutes  of 
1855,  of  this  Commonwealth  : 

40  (Yrtir.cutes  iiiunbe>'P,d  from  1 to  40  inclusive,  each  forSlOOO,  dated 
June  1,  1855,  payable  June  1,  1885,  he  aring  interest  at  sis  per  cent, 
per  annum, payable  semi  annually,  -wiih  interest  warrants  attached,  $^40,000.00 

100  Certificates  numbered  from  1 to  100  inclusive,  each  for  SlOO,  dated 
June  1,  1855,  payable  June  1, 1875,  hearing  interest  at  six  per  cent 
per  annum,  payable  semi-annually  with  interest  warrants  attached,  SIO.000.00 

I’lie  above  scrip  was  sold  at  a premium  of  1 per  cent,  advance,  !ir500.00 

interest  accrued  on  said  scrip  when  delivered,  received,  $445.78 

$50,945.78 

Pursuant  to  a vote  of  said  inhabitants  passed  at  a meet- 
ing legally  notified  and  held  for  that  purpose,  on  the  seven- 
teenth day  of  November,  in  the  year  one  thousand  eight  hun- 
dred and  fifty-five,  the  said  Selectmen  issued  and  sold  an  ad- 
ditional amount  of  Plymouth  Water  Scrip  for  the  purposes 
aforesaid,  for  the  sum  of  thirty-one  thousand  dollars,  in  sums 
as  follows  : 


APPENDIX  A. 


35 


29  Certificates  numbered  trorn  41  to  09  inclusive  each  for  $1000, diitcd 
Deeernbor  1,  1855,  payable  June  1,  1885,  hearin;;;  interest  at  six  per 
cent.  |>er  annum,  payable  semi-annually,  with  interest  warrants  at- 
tached, $29,000,00 

20  Certificates  numbering  from  101  to  120  inclusive,  oacli  for  $100, 
dated  December  1,  1855,  payable  June  1,  1875,  bearing  interest  at 
six  per  cent,  per  annum,  payable  semi-annually,  with  interest  war- 
rants attached,  $2,000  00 

Interest  accrued  on  said  scrip  when  delivered,  received,  40  00 


$81,991.78 

The  above  sum,  amounting  to  eighty-one  thousand  nine 
hundred  and  ninety-one  dollars  and  seventy-eight  cents,  was 
all  paid  into  the  Town  Treasury  and  has  been  paid  over  to 
the  Board  of  Water  Commissioners,  by  Samuel  Shernniii, 
Esq.,  Town  Treasurer,  upon  warrants  therefor  drawn  by  the 
Selectmen. 

Dated  at  Plymouth,  this  ninth  day  of  February,  in  the 
year  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  fifty  five.  . 

JACOB  H.  LOUD,  ^ 

WM.  T.  DAVIS, 

E.-C.  TURNER,  ^ 

EZRA  LEACH,  | 

ISRAEL  CLARK,  J 


Selectmen 

of 

Plymouth. 


APPENDIX  P. 


CONSTRUCTING  ENGINEER’S  REPORT. 

Engineer’s  Office,  y 

Plymouth,  Feb.  1,  1856,  ) 

Charles  0.  Churchill,  Esq.,  Chairman, 

and  members  of  the  Board  of  Water  Commissioners. 

Gentlemen  : — 

In  accepting  at  your  hands  the  appointment  of  mechanical, 
or  constructing  Engineer,  of  the  Plymouth  Water  Works,  I 
was  not  insensible  to  the  reluctance  of  many  of  the  citizens 
of  Plymouth,  who  are  largely  interested  in  the  welfare  of  the 
town,  to  entrusting  duties  so  responsible  as  those  which  must 
necessarily  belong  to  such  a position,  to  any  of  our  own  citi- 
zens ; and  I should  have  hesitated  to  assume  those  duties  but 
for  the  engagement  by  your  Board  of  a Consulting  Engineer, 
to  whom  I might  under  all  circumstances  apply  for  advice 
and  counsel,  and  in  whose  judgment  I could  at  all  times  con- 
fide. But  with  this  assurance  and  a reliance  also  upon  the 
co-operation  of  your  own  members  in  the  discharge  of  my 
duties,  I allowed  myself  to  be  designated  as  the  Engineer  of 
the  work,  and  ask  to  submit  the  following 

REPORT. 

The  actual  amount  of  water  which  will  be  required  for  the 
supply  of  the  town  for  a quarter  or  half  a century  to  come, 
must  of  course  be  assumed,  rather  than  calculated  ; the  growth 
of  the  town  depending  much  upon  the  means  employed  by 
the  people  already  residing  here,  to  develop  its  future  re- 


APPENDIX  B 


37 


sources.  But  the  fact  that  in  every  city  or  town  in  this  coun- 
try, hitherto  supplied  by  artificial  means,  the  consumption  has 
exceeded  the  estimates,  and  that  while  in  many  of  the  inland 
towns  of  Great  Britian  the  average  daily  consumption  for 
each  inhabitant  is  but  about  20  gallons,  it  is  shown  that  in 
Philadelphia  in  1852  it  was  40  3-4  gallons,  in  New  York  50 
gallons,  and  in  Boston  in  1853,  63  1-4  gallons,  leads  to  the 
belief  that  it  is  wiser  to  calculate  too  largely  than  to  fix  such 
a limit  to  the  works  that  water  may  not  be  used  extensively 
for  manufacturing  purposes,  if  at  any  future  period  it  shall  be 
required.  And  if  any  calculations  I have  made,  or  any  plans 
which  have  been  proposed,  shall  be  looked  upon  as  extrava- 
gant for  a town  no  larger  than  our  own,  I must  meet  those 
ideas  with  the  hope  that  my  anticipations  of  our  future  pros- 
perity, are  not  over  estimated,  and  a belief  that  nothing  is 
proposed  which  will  not  in  the  end  prove  economical. 

The  South  Ponds, 

Although  the  town  by  its  vote  of  December,  1854,  had* 
designated  one  of  two  ponds,  or  lakes,  as  the  source  from 
which  water  should  be  supplied  to  the  inhabitants,  it  was 
nevertheless  the  duty  of  an  Engineer  before  entering  upon 
the  work  of  actual  construction,  to  ascertain  whether  that  se- 
lection had  been  made  with  a due  regard  to  the  prospective: 
interests  of  the  town,  so  that  the  mistake,  if  any  had  been 
made,  might  be  corrected  before  the  appropriations  for  the 
enterprise  had  been  sacrificed.  For  this  purpose  the  sheets 
of  water  known  as  ‘‘Great  South  Pond’'  and  “Little  South 
Pond,”  (designations  indicating  only  a sub-division  of  what 
would  be  simply  South  Pond,)  were  visited  by  me  in  February 
last,  in  company  with  Mr.  Whitwell,  and  a careful  examina- 
tion was  made,  not  only  of  the  lakes  themselves,  but  of  the 
surrounding  territory  from  which  the  waters  are  discharged 
into  these  inland  seas.  The  size  of  the  lakes,  with  the  vast 
extent  of  water  shed  upon  either  side,  rendered  it  so  perfectly 
apparent  that  the  supply  must  be  adequate  for  a large  number 


38 


WATER  commissioners’  REPORT. 


of  such  towns  as  Plymouth,  and  a pix3vious  analysis,  by 
Prof.  IJorsford,  of  tlie  waters  themselves,  having  shown  them 
to  be  purer  than  any  yet  subjected  to  an  examination  in  Mas- 
sachusetts, left  little  to  be  done,  with  regard  to  the  source  of 
supply,  but  to  ascertain  the  least  expensive  means  of  connect- 
ing those  lakes  with  the  town  in  such  a manner  that  the  full 
head  should  bo  made  available  ; and  as  early  as  the  season 
would  admit  the  surveys  were  commenced,  preparatory  to 
the  commencement  of  the  work. 

From  a survey  of  the  smaller,  or  Little  South  Pond,  I found 
it  to  cover  an  area  of  67  20-100  acres,  or  nearly  3,000,000 
superficial  feet,  having  upon  all  sides  a shore  comparatively 
bold,  and  free  from  flats  or  mud  of  any  kind,  but  presenting 
a bottom  mainly  of  white  sand  and  gravel  through  which  the 
water,  falling  upon  the  surrounding  forests,  must  flow  before 
it  can  mingle  with  that  of  the  lake ; on  the  margin  of  which 
the  pure,  and  ever  open  springs  are  constantly  sending  their 
transparent  waters  into  the  lake  itself.  Under  any  ordinary 
circumstances  this  supply  would  be  deemed  amply  sufficient 
for  a town  much  larger  than  our  own,  but  as  Great  South 
Pond,  wdii(‘h  is  much  larger  in  itself,  was  found  to  be  separated 
from  Little  South  Pond  only  by  a belt  or  strip  of  land  about 
five  hundred  feet  in  width,  through  which  the  waters  were 
found  to  be  connected,  though  the  fact  that  the  surface  of  the 
larger  was  some  twenty  inches  above  that  of  the  smaller  lake 
proved  that  this  subterraneous  communication  Avas  not  of  suf- 
ficient capacity  to  meet  the  more  rapid  evaporation  of  the 
smaller  pond,  which  contains  less  depth  of  Avater.  This  gave 
some  reason  for  the  apprehension  that  an  unforeseen  draught 
from  the  large  pond  might  diminish  the  supply  from  the  small 
one,  and  the  town,  if  not  entirely  cut  off,  might  suffer  from  a 
Avant  of  head,  already  much  less  than  is  desirable  to  supply 
the  higher  service.  These  facts,  together  with  that  of  their 
being  no  natural  outlet  to  any  of  these  Avaters,  Avhich  precludes 
all  claims  for  damage  to  mill  OAvners,  determined  the  neces- 
sity of  opening  a canal  for  the  permanent  connection  of  the 


APPENDIX  B. 


39 


two  lakes  ; the  whole  expense  of  which  has  been  less  than 
$300,  inclusive  of  the  land'  through  which  the  canal  has 
been  excavated.  This  has  produced  a.  constant  flow  from 
the  larger  into  the  smaller  lake,  thereby  raising  the  latter 
to  a height  not  otherwise  attainable,  and  saving  the  large 
additional  expense  that  would  have  accrued  in  carrying  the 
pipes  to  the  large  or  principal  lake. 

Route. 

Having  thus  decided  to  bring  the  water  from  ‘‘Little  South 
Pond,”  the  next  thing  waste  ascertain  the  most  feasible,  and 
at  the  same  time  the  most  permanent  line  for  the  safety  of  the 
pipes,  and  this  I have  found  among  the  most  difficult  of  my 
duties — having  decided  upon  that  over  which  the  pipes  have 
been  carried  with  reluctance  in  some  respects,  and  not  until 
obstacles  upon  ail  the  other  lines  had  been  met  which  ap- 
peared insurmountable,  wdthout  largely  exceeding  the  antici- 
ipated  expenditure  for  this  portion  of  the  work. 

In  1854,1  had  occasion  to  make  a temporary  examination  of 
the  land  between  South  Pond  and  the  Town  Brook,  and  with- 
out being  allowed  the  opportunity  to  take  the  necessary  levels 
and  execute  the  profiles  by  which  alone  a correct  conclusion 
could  be  arrived  at,  I expressed  an  opinion  that  “the  cheap- 
est and  most  direct  route  would  be  to  commence  at  what  is 
denominated  Little  South  Pond,  and  from  a conduit  there 
constructed,  of  sufficient  capacity  to  contain  the  necessary  fil- 
tering apparatus,  lay  the  pipes  in  nearly  a direct  line  to  the 
margin  of  Loud  Pond,  on  the  westerly  side,”  and  from  which 
point  I then  said  the  grading  would  be  more  difficult,  and  the 
whole  w^as  qualified  by  the  expression  that“a  more  careful 
and  thorough  examination  might  suggest  a better  and  possibly 
a shorter  route”  over  which  the  pipes  could  be  laid. 

A “careful  and  thorough”  survey  of  this  route  showed  the 
elevations  on  the  westerly  side  of  Loud  Pond  to  be  much  more 
formidable  than  appeared  to  the  eye,  rising  more  than  thirty 
feet  above  the  surface  of  the  lake  itself,  and  to  remove  which. 


40 


WATER  commissioners'  REPORT, 


added  to  the  necessity  of  a large  additional  amount  of  exca- 
vation through  the  southerly  part  of  the  farm  of  Mr.  Asa 
Thomas,  would  enhance  the  expense  to^  an  amount  not  deemed 
advisable  if  it  could  be  avoided. 

A route  was  then  surveyed  by  the  same  line  for  the  first 
3000  feet  from  the  lake,  and  passing  Loud  Pond  upon  the 
easterly  side,  extending  across  the  farm  of  Mr.  Thomas  T. 
Jackson,  in  nearly  a direct  line  to  the  intersection  of  Sum- 
mer and  High  streets.  This,  as  was  anticipated,  proved  to 
be  a shorter  line,  but  the  profiles  showed  the  range  of  hills 
north-easterly  of  Loud  Pond  to  be  in  the  lowest  place  forty- 
eight  feet  above  the  line  of  grade,  and  the  route  was  of  course 
abandoned. 

A survey  was  then  made  of  the  line,  that  in  the  main,  was 
finally  adopted,  and  which  proved  to  be  less  expensive  than 
the  others  ; all  of  which  are  delineated  upon  a plan  herewith 
submitted,  and  which  alone  can  convey  a correct  idea  of  the 
route  adopted  for  the  line  of  pipes. 

The  pipes  from  the  lake  to  the  highway  near  the  pond  of 
the  Samoset  Mills  are  laid  upon  a series  of  descending  grades 
or  inclined  planes,  varying,  during  the  first  2800  feet  from 
125  feet  to  10  feet  in  the  mile,  to  meet  the  various  difficulties 
which  nature  had  placed  upon  the  route,  and  from  this  point 
(2800  feet  from  the  lake)  the  grade  descends  uniformly  about 
6 1-2  inches  to  the  mile,  6650  feet,  after  which  the  descent 
is  a little  more  rapid,  until  the  town  brook  is  intersected, 
where  the  line  of  pipe  is  twenty-three  feet  below  the  surface 
of  the  lake. 

The  reasons  for  adopting  a continuous  descending  grade, 
instead  of  following  the  irregularities  of  the  surface,  as  con- 
templated in  1854,  are  so  familiar  to  the  commissioners  that 
but  a casual  reference  appears  necessary  in  this  Report. 
The  fact  that  the  entire  head  was  required  to  meet  the  higher 
grades  of  service,  so  that  no  power  could  be  wasted  in  ascend- 
ing acclivities,  all  of  which  must  be  supplied  with  air-cocks, 
requiring  the  closest  attention,  might  have  been  a sufficient 


APPENDIX  B. 


41 


reason  in  itself  for  this  course,  when  the  small  size  of  the  main 
pipe  was  determined  upon;  but  with  the  subsequent  exten- 
sions, which  continued  small  sized  pipes  for  miles  beyond  the 
original  estimate,  such  a course  was  indispensable.  Another 
reason  is  found  in  the  kind  of  pipe  that  has  been  adopted, 
which  can  only  be  protected  in  a permanent  bed  below  the 
surface^  while  iron  pipes  can  be  secured  in  almost  any  kind 
of  soil  or  substance,  those  of  the  Jersey  City  Water  Works, 
as  is  well  known,  being  laid  upon  the  surface  of  the  marshes, 
without  even  a trench  to  contain  them.  These,  and  various 
other  reasons,  might  be  adduced  to  show  the  economy  of  the 
line  of  grade  which  was  adopted,  rather  than  increase  the 
length  of  the  pipes  by  curving  around  the  hills  or  following 
the  undulations  of  the  surface,  and  compelling  a resort  to  iron 
pipes  to  span  the  swamps  and  marshes ; but  they  are  all  so 
well  understood  and  appreciated  by  the  commissioners  and 
by  the  whole  people,  that  it  is  needless  to  dwell  upon  them. 
It  is  true,  as  suggested  in  1854  that  a line  of  pipes  can  be 
laid  through  which  water  can  be  conveyed  from  South  Pond, 
to  Loud  Pond  with  a very  small  amount  of  excavation,  but  it 
does  not  prove  true  upon  investigation  that  cement  pipes  can 
he  laid  there  and  remain  permanent,  and  hence  that  course 
has  not  been  adopted. 

Entering  Lake, 

In  entering  South  Pond  I have  adopted,  mainly,  the  course 
suggested  on  a former  occasion,  “have  constructed  a conduit 
(or  flume)  of  sufficient  capacity  to  contain  the  necessary  filter- 
ing apparatus,'’  from  which  the  pipes  are  laid  in  nearly  a 
direct  line  to  within  a few  hundred  feet  of  Loud  Pond,  after 
which  a series  of  curves  and  angles  through  the  valley  men- 
tioned in  my  former  Report,  as  less  expensive^  brings  the  line 
to  the  point  upon  the  farm  of  Mr.  Asa  Thomas,  then  desig- 
nated. 

The  difficulties  In  entering  the  lake  itself,  partly  because 
the  pipes  have  been  carried  to  a greater  depth  than  was  first 


42 


WATER  commissioners'  REI^ORT, 


contemplated,  and  partly  because  the  water  flows  a distance 
beyond  the  margin  of  the  lake,  not  expected  from  the  indica- 
tions upon  the  surface,  were  considerably  larger  than  had 
been  at  first  anticipated;  but  when  it  is  considered  that  much 
of  the  expense  at  that  point  is  for  the  filtering  apparatus  it- 
self ; which  is  admitted  to  prevent  anything  hut  water  from 
passing  into  the  pipes,  it  is  believed  that  all  additional  cost 
there,  is  more  than  compensated  by  the  additional  purity, 
given  to  the  water  itself,  nor  am  I enabled  to  discover  that 
anything  would  have  been  gained  had  any  other  point  been 
selected  for  entering  South  Pond  than  that  contemplated  in 
1854,  and  now  adopted. 

Entering  Town  Brook. 

The  Town  Brook  I first  contemplated  crossing  above  the 
stream,  but  the  purchase  of  the  Old  Aqueduct  induced  me  to 
reconsider  that  dietermination  and  carry  the  pipes  below  the 
bed  of  the  brook,  first  to  secure  to  the  town  the  right  to  take 
water  from  that  brook  “by  subterraneous  pipes,"  as  provided 
in  the  old  charter,  and  also  that  the  brook  itself  should  be 
made  available  when  the  main  source  should  temporarily  fail; 
and  the  advantages  of  this  arrangement  have  already  been 
witnessed  by  our  citizens  by  a two  months  supply  before  the 
works  were  completed.  The  filtering  apparatus  at  this  place 
consists  only  of  a copper  screen  and  is  less  perfect  than  it 
would  have  been  had  it  been  intended  ever  to  take  from 
this  brook  more  than  a temporary  supply. 

From  the  Town  Brook  the  pipes  are  carried  to  the  village 
by  the  principal  street  or  highway,  traversing  a hill  which 
has  heretofore  been  considered  insurmountable  by  the  water 
of  this  brook  by  the  force  of  gravitation,  and  thence  follows  the 
line  of  our  principal  streets  to  Wellingsley  upon  the  one  side, 
and  nearly  to  Kingston  upon  the  other,  the  details  of  which 
will  of  course  be  found  in  your  own  Report,  and  as  my  super- 
vision over  this  portion  of  the  work  has  been  only  of  a general 
character,  a detailed  report  will  not  be  required. 


APPENDIX  B. 


43 


Reservoir. 

The  selection  of  a lot  for,  a Reservoir  seems  ratlier  to  have 
been  made  by  nature  itself — much  of  the  excavation  being- 
saved  by  the  natural  situation  of  the  ground  upon  which  it  has 
been  in  the  main  constructed.  This  part  of  the  work  has 
been  laid  out  to  correspond  with  the  lot,  being  at  the  top 
227  feet  long  upon  one  side  and  213  feet  upon  the  other,  by 
an  average  width  of  13G  feet.  From  these  lines  the  sides  in- 
cline inwardly  upon  a slope  one  and  a half  feet  horizontally, 
to  each  perpendicular  foot,  to  a depth  of  21  feet  perpendicu- 
lar descent  from  the  face  of  the  embankments,  and  to  the 
water  line  will  contain  a fraction  les  ; than  1,700,000  gallons 
of  231  cubic  inches.  The  water  lining  of  the  work  is  of 
^‘Blue  Clay,”  found  upon  our  shores  in  great  abundance,  and 
the  experience  thus  far  proves  how  well  it  is  adapted 
to  work  of  this  kind.  The  water  is  let  into  the  Reservoir  from 
the  bottom,  the  same  pipe  being  construcied  lor  supplying 
and  draining  it,  by  which  the  full  head  of  the  Reservoir  may 
at  all  times  be  kept  upon  the  pipes,  or  by  simply  closing  the 
gate  upon  the  supply  pipe,  and  opening  that  of  the  waste, 
all  the  water  can  be  drawn  from  the  Reservoir  without  affect- 
ing the  purity  of  the  water  in  the  pipes  from  which  the  sup- 
ply to  the  town  is  being  taken.  This  arrangement  Avill  ad- 
mit of  changing  the  water  as  often  as  desirable,  and  in  case 
any  impure  substance  finds  its  way  into  the  Reservoir,  it  can 
be  removed  without  injury  to  the  water  in  the  pipes. 

With  these  remarks  relative  to  the  work  that  in  part  I have 
had  the  direction  of,  and  which  I trust  may  be  intelligible, 
as  I hope  they  will  be  satisfactoiy,  1 commit  the  work  into 
your  hands,  content  to  abide  with  yourselves  the  verdict  of 
the  people  by  whose  suffrages  we  have  been  given  authority 
for  the  labor  that  has  been  performed. 

MOSES  BATES,  Jr.,  Ccnsirucling  Engineer. 


44 


WATER  commissioners'  REPORT. 


CONSULTING  ENGINEER'S  REPORT. 

To  the  Board  of  Water  Commissioners  of  Plymouth  : 
Gentlemen  : 

By  your  request  I present  the  following  state- 
ment of  my  connection  with  your  work,  from  the  commence- 
ment to  the  completion,  with  some  reasons  for  the  plan  of 
construction  which  I have  advised.  Early  in  the  spring  of 
last  year  a committee  from  your  Board  engaged  me  to  act  as 
consulting  Engineer  of  the  work  you  were  then  just  about  to 
commence.  In  accordance  with  this  engagement  I visited  a 
few  days  afterwards,  “ South  Pond"  and  the  adjoining  pond, 
in  company  with  your  Engineer,  Mr.  Bates,  and  examined 
carefully  the  two  lines,  by  which  it  was  proposed  to  con- 
duct the  water  to  the  village.  From  a survey  of  the  ponds 
I was  satisfied  that  the  supply  was  abundant,  and  having 
been  informed  by  Mr.  Bates  that  the  elevation  of  these  ponds 
though  only  60  feet  above  the  main  street  of  the  town,  was 
higher  than  that  of  any  other  large  ponds  in  the  neighbor- 
hood, it  was  very  plain  that  it  would  not  be  judicious  to  take 
the  water  from  sources  of  lower  elevation.  From  a subse- 
quent examination  of  the  town  I was  convinced  that  even  this 
elevation  would  frequently  fail  to  supply  consumers  on  the 
high  service,  on  each  side  of  the  river  without  the  aid  of  a 
Reservoir.  I therefore  fully  coincided  with  Mr.  Bates  in  his 
selection  of  South  Pond  as  a source  of  supply. 

After  an  examination  of  the  two  lines  over  which  it  was 
proposed  to  lay  the  main  pipe,  on  the  ground  as  well  as  by 
the  profiles,  it  was  decided  that  the  west  line,  though  longer, 
was  much  more  level,  and  less  expensive  ; it  was  therefore 
adopted  as  the  line  of  location. 

The  next  question  was  the  kind  of  pipe  to  be  used. 

Two  kinds  of  pipe  were  proposed — the  Cast  Iron  pipe  and 
the  Iron  and  Cement  pipe,  known  as  “Ball's  Patent";  with  the 
latter  I had  been  acquainted  for  several  years,  and  from  its 


APPENDIX  B. 


45 


cleanliness,  cheapness  and  durability,  I was  much  inclined  to 
advise  its  adoption  without  any  qualification  ; as  a precau- 
tionary measure  I proposed  that  a committee  of  your  Board 
should  visit  Rockland,  in  Maine,  where  these  pipes  had  been 
in  use  for  nearly  two  years,  to  learn  there  if  any  objections 
existed  to  their  use,  and  if  they  had  answered  the  expecta- 
tions that  had  been  formed  of  them  ; your  committee  returned 
so  well  satisfied  with  the  report  received  of  them,  that  they 
were  adopted  without  further  hesitation. 

The  great  objection  to  the  iron  pipe  is  found  in  the  rapid 
incrustation  which  takes  place  on  the  inside  of  the  pipe,  and 
very  soon  seriously  diminishes  its  capacity  ; this  becomes  a 
matter  of  much  more  consequence  with  the  small  pipes,  than 
with  those  of  a larger  size,  and  while  in  a 30-inch  pipe  the 
diminution  of  capacity  would  be  scarcely  perceptible  for  seven 
or  eight  years,  in  a pipe  of  ten  inches  diameter,  the  incrusa- 
tion  of  four  years  would  probably  reduce  the  capacity  one- 
fifth.  The  ‘iron  and  cement  pipe’  is  free  from  this  objection  ; 
the  bore  remains  always  of  the  same  diameter,  always  clean, 
and  becomes  harder  and  more  durable  by  age.  With  proper 
care  in  selecting  the  best  quality  of  cement,  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  the  pipes,  and  in  making  the  joints,  I consider  this  as 
the  best  water  pipe  now  in  use  for  the  supply  of  towns  and 
villages,  and  it  may  yet  be  found  to  succeed  quite  as  well  in 
large  cities. 

The  Board  have  reason  to  be  satisfied  with  the  decision 
they  have  made,  as  they  have  materially  decreased  the  cost 
of  the  work  by  the  use  of  this  pipe,  and  owing  to  the  care  and 
superintendency  of  Mr.  Bates  and  Mr.  Davee,  together  with 
the  earnest  desire  of  the  Pipe  Company  to  have  the  work 
done  in  a thorough  and  careful  manner,  there  is  every  reason 
to  believe  that  the  expense  for  repairs  will  be  unusually 
small. 

In  making  the  calculations  for  the  supply  of  water  to  cities, 
it  has  been  customary  to  consider  30  gallons  to  an  individual, 
as  sufficient  to  include  the  domestic  supply  and  all  extra  uses. 


4G 


WATER  commissioners’  REPORT, 


siich  as  steam  erigiaes,  mamifactoiics,  &c.  In  all  our  large 
cities  in  this  country,  owing  to  the  great  waste  which  has 
been  allowed,  this  amount  has  been  exceeded,  ranging  in 
Boston  at  certain  seasons  from  40  to  even  90  gallons  per  head. 
For  towns  like  Plymouth  where  the  work  can  be  carefully  su- 
pervised, this  allowance  of  30  gallons  may  be  considered 
enough,  though  not  a large  supply. 

The  first  calculations  for  tlie  main  pipe,  were  based  upon 
this  allowance  for  each  individual  of  a population  of  10,000 
persons.  To  supply  this  quantity  would  require  a pipe  of  12 
inches  in  diameter,  discharging  under  a head  of  G feet  during 
IG  hours  of  the  day.  As  the  cost  of  this  pipe  was  beyond 
the  limit  allowed  by  your  Board,  it  was  resolved  to  substitute 
a pipe  of  10  inches  diameter,  and  to  connect  it  with  a Reser- 
voir. In  this  manner  the  diminished  size  of  the  pipe,  would 
be  nearly  compensated  by  the  greater  length  of  time  in  which 
it  would  be  giving  off  its  supply.  Thus  a 10-inch  pipe  dis- 
charging during  the  hours  of  consumption,  say  16  hours,  un- 
<ler  a head  of  6 feet  will  deliver  181,360  gallons  or  a supply 
for  a population  of  6046,  and  by  running  into  a reservoir  dur- 
ing the  other  eight  hours,  it  will  deliver  272,040  gallons,  or 
a supply  for  a population  of  9068.  It  may  be  said  that  the 
construction  of  the  reservoir  could  have  been  postponed  until 
the  increased  number  of  consumers  required  the  additional 
supply  ; but  other  reasons  existed  which  rendered  a reservoir 
important  to  this  particular  work,  which  without  it  wmuld 
have  been  a source  of  complaint  and  disappointment. 

The  advantages  to  be  gained  by  the  .construction  of  a res- 
ervoir near  the  centre  of  consumption  are  the  following  : 

To  furnish  the  means  of  continuing  the  flow  of  the  pipes, 
during  that  portion  of  the  day  when  consumption  is  generally 
suspended. 

A reservoir  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  consumption  fur- 
nishes a steady  head  upon  the  pipes  of  distribution,  and  pre- 
vents the  constant  fluctuation  to  which  they  are  liable  when 
drawing  their  supply  from  a long  distance.  This  is  directly 


APPENDIX  B. 


47 


applicable  to  Plymouth,  where  the  high  portions  of  the  town 
are  less  than  10  feet  below  the  fountain  head.  Without  a 
reservoir  the  houses  situated  on  the  elevated  parts,  would  be 
deprived  of  water  at  the  very  time  when  most  wanted,  at  the 
period  of  greatest  draught.  The  10-inch  pipe,  when  giving 
off  its  average  supply  is  reduced  in  force  of  head  six  feet,  or 
in  other  words  the  water  will  rise  from  three  to  four  feet  only 
above  the  point  at  which  the  above  mentioned  houses  receive 
the  water,  this  being  the  height  to  which  the  water  will  rise 
under  the  average  draught.  It  is  however  fair  to  suppose 
that  between  the  hours  of  six  and  eleven  in  the  morning  the 
draught  is  double  that  of  the  other  hours  of  the  day  ; then 
as  the  head  is  as  the  square  of  the  ratio  of  discharge,  the 
water  would  be  drawn  down  twenty-four  feet  below  the  source, 
and  their  supply  cut  off  entirely.  A reservoir  remedies  this 
difficulty.  By  having  a large  body  of  water  in  store  in  the 
centre  of  consumption,  any  unusual  draught  is  quickly  felt 
and  as  quickly  supplied,  and  the  height  of  the  water  in  the 
pipes,  is  kept  nearly  equal  to  the  reservoir  level. 

A reservoir  affords  the  benefit  of  the  most  effective  head  in 
extinguishing  fires.  It  will  be  seen  by  the  preceding  case 
that  by  doubling  the  discharge  the  head  is  reduced  from  six 
feet  to  twenty-four,  and  should  a fire  occur  during  the  period 
of  greatest  draught  this  would  probably  be  exceeded  ; thus 
the  fire  hydrants,  which  under  a reservoir  head  of  sixty  feet, 
are  the  most  effective  engines  for  extinguishing  the  fire,  with- 
out it  are  reduced  in  force  nearly  one  half,  and  become  only 
useful  in  supplying  the  hand  engines. 

This  statement,  though  the  result  of  calculation,  has  been 
accidentally  verified  to  a certain  extent,  by  some  trials  while 
the  pipe  was  unconnected  with  the  reservoir.  By  opening 
three  hydrants  on  the  lower  level,  it  was  found  that  the  water 
was  taken  entirely  away  from  the  pipe  on  the  hill. 

Another  very  important  office  which  a local  reservoir  per- 
forms, is  that  of  preserving  the  supply  to  the  town  uninter- 
rupted, while  the  main  pipe  is  emptied  for  the  purpose  of  re- 


48 


WATER  commissioners’  REPORT. 


pairs.  Tnis  interraption  may  not  occur  often,  but  it  must  be 
provided  for,  and  should  a fire  occur  during  such  time,  it 
would  cause  a more  serious  loss  than  many  times  the  cost  of 
the  reservoir.  Besides  this,  the  inconvenience  to  families 
to  manufacturers,  and  others  employing  steam  engines  of  be- 
ing suddenly  deprived  of  water  is  a reason  for  its  construc- 
tion which  deserves  very  serious  consideration. 

It  was  always  anticipated  that  the  work  at  the  lake  would 
be  expensive  and  troublesome,  from  the  porous  nature  of  the 
soil,  through  which  it  was  necessary  to  excavate.  In  its  ex- 
ecution it  proved  the  most  difficult  part  of  the  work ; but 
through  the  exertions  of  Mr.  Bates  it  was  finally  accomplished 
at  a reasonable  expense. 

The  whole  cost  of  the  work  though  small  for  one  of  this 
magnitude,  has  considerably  exceeded  the  original  estimate. 
This  has  arisen  from  extending  the  pipes  and  increasing  the 
work  generally  beyond  what  was  at  first  contemplated.  Had 
it  been  possible  to  confine  the  work  to  its  original  limits,  it 
could  have  been  constructed  for  a much  less  sum  ; but  one 
year  would  not  have  passed  over  without  an  increased  expen- 
diture being  required  by  the  demands  of  those  citizens  living 
without  the  limits  of  supply.  It  would  then  have  cost  twen- 
ty-five per  cent,  more  to  have  done  that  which  has  now  been 
performed  at  the  minimum  cost. 

In  closing  this  paper  I trust  I may  be  allowed  to  express 
the  opinion  that  as  far  as  my  observation  has  extended,  this 
work  has  been  managed  with  great  care  and  economy,  and 
with  a single  eye  to  the  interests  of  the  town  ; and  though  its 
advantages  may  not  now  be  appreciated  by  all,  but  few  years 
will  elapse,  before  it  will  be  considered  one  of  the  most  judi- 
cious expenditures  of  public  money  the  town  has  ever  made. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

W.  S.  WHITWELL,  Consulting  Engineer. 


THE 


Patent  Water  & Gas  Pipe  Company 

OF  JERSEY  CITY,  N.  J. 

Incorporated  by  the  General  Manufacturing  Laws  of  the  State  op  New- Jersey. 


Qajuial  (ffiock,  . . . 2S0j000  ^ollaM^ 

mnCH  ENABLES  THE  COMPANY  TO  EXECUTE  LARGE  CONTRACTS. 


DIRECTORS, 


WM.  H.  TALCOTT, 
NATHAN  STEPHENS, 
JONATHAN  BALL, 
SILAS  FORD, 


JOSEPH  BATTIN, 
JUSTUS  SLATER, 
WM.  BEARD, 
NATHAN  HEDGES. 


WM.  H.  TALCOTT,  President. 

JUSTUS  SLATER,  Vice  President. 

WALTER  HARRIS,  Secretary  & Treasurer. 
,McREE  SWIFT,  Engineer  & Superintendent. 


|m-|crl ; 

Francis  Hart,  Printer  and  Stationer,  63  Gortlandt  Street. 

1 8 57. 


CIRCULAR. 


The  Patent  Water  and  Gas  Pipe  Company  of  Jersey  City, 
New  Jersey,  are  now  laying  their  pipe  extensively  in  various  towns 
and  cities  throughout  the  country. 

This  Pipe  is  made  of  sheet  iron,  of  any  required  thickness,  formed 
by  machinery,  and  firmly  rivetted  into  pipe  of  any  needed  dia- 
meter— and  of  sufficient  strength  to  resist  any  head  of  water  or 
pressure  to  which  it  may  be  subjected.  It  is  also  lined  by  ma- 
chinery, with  mortar  made  of  Rosendale  hydraulic  cement^  and  laid 
in  a bed  of  mortar  made  of  the  same  material,  the  entire  outside 
being  perfectly  covered  with  the  mortar.  The  cement  soon  becomes 
hard  like  stone,  and  perfectly  protects  the  metal  from  the  action  of 
air  or  water,  and  consequently,  prevents  either  corrosion  or  incrus- 
tations, and  enables  the  pipe  to  deliver  the  water  to  the  consumer 
as  pure  as  it  is  at  the  fountain  head. 

The  sections  of  pipe  are  connected  by  means  of  a sleeve  over  the 
joints,  made  large  enough  to  allow  a filling  of  mortar  between  the 
pipe  and  the  sleeve,  the  whole  being  also  covered  externally  with 
mortar,  thereby  making  the  joints  stronger  even  than  the  rest  of 
the  pipe, 

The  following  are  some  of  the  towns  and  cities  that  have  used  the 
“Wrought  Iron  and  Cement  Pipes”  in  the  construction  of  their 
Water  Works,  viz  : — 


Saratoga  Springs,  N.  Y. 

Cohoes,  N.  Y 

Rockland,  Maine, 

Watertown,  N.Y 

Bridgeport,  Conn 

Pittsfield,  Mass 

Plymouth,  “ 

Elizabeth,  N.  J 

Paterson,  “ 

Jersey  City,  “ 

Toronto,.  Canada 


Works  laid  in  1846. 


it  ii 

U U 

(6  U 

a €i 

a a 

a u 

ti 

a a 

Extended 

U 


“ 1847. 

“ 1851. 

“ 1853. 

“ 1854. 

“ 1855. 

“ 1855. 

“ 1855. 

“ 1856. 

“ '55, ’56  & ’57 
“ 1856. 


3 


The  following  extracts  and  testimonials,  from  Engineers  who  have 
had  the  opportunity  to  judge  of  the  merits  of  the  Wrought  Iron  and 
Cement  Pipes,  as  compared  with  cast  iron  pipes,  and  from  Directors 
and  other  persons  having  charge  of  water-works  constructed  with 
our  pipes,  show  the  efficiency  and  durability  of  this  kind  of  pipe, 
and -its  great  economy y as  compared  with  cast  iron  pipes,  both  in  the 
first  construction  of  the  works  and  in  subsequent  repairs. 

It  is  a matter  of  much  satisfaction  to  the  Company,  that  notwith- 
standing the  opposition  it  has  encountered  from  interested  par- 
ties, and  the  natural  aversion  of  the  community  to  any  radical  change 
in  an  article  which  has  been  long  in  general  use,  our  pipe  is  steadily 
gaining  favor  with  the  public. 

In  every  instance  where  a careful  investigation  has  been  made, 
the  parties  have  arrived  at  the  conclusion  that  it  is  the  best  pipe 
known  for  conveying  water. 


EXTRACT  FROM  THE  REPORT  OF  THE  WATER  COMMIS- 
SIONERS OF  PLYMOUTH,  MASS.,  FOR  1856. 

“ The  most  important  question  to  be  decided  by  the  Commis- 
sioners, because  involving  an  appropriation  of  money  equal  to  all 
other  parts  of  the  work  combined,  was  the  kind  of  pipes  through 
which  the  water  should  be  conveyed.  The  largest  experience  in 
this  country,  as  well  as  in  Europe,  pointed  to  cast  iron,  as  the  prin- 
cipal material  used  in  the  construction  of  water  pipes.  But  the  expe- 
rience of  the  last  few  years  has  shown,  that  where  water  approxi- 
mates in  any  considerable  degree  to  purity,  the  iron  pipes  through 
which  it  has  been  conveyed,  have  become  boated  with  rust,  or 
tubercles — in  some  instances  diminishing  the  size  of  the  pipes  as 
much  as  fifty  per  cent. — and  the  iron  couplings  used  for  connecting 
the  wooden  logs  of  the  old  aqueduct  in  this  town,  in  some  instances, 
were  found  to  have  been  diminished  in  their  capacity  for  conveying 
water  more  than  seventy-jive  jper  cent.y  by  the  accumulation  of  these 
tubercles.  The  analyzation  of  the  waters  of  South  Pond,  by  Pro- 
fessor Horsford,  of  Harvard  University,  having  shown  them  to  be  of 
unsurpassing  purity,  and  all  experience  having  proved  that  the 


4 


injury  to  iron  pipes  is  increased  in  proportion  as  the  water  is  pure, 
the  Commissioners  were  decided  to  look  for  other  material  than  iron 
for  the  construction  of  the  pipes. 

“ The  report  of  a committee  of  the  town  in  1854,  having  presented 
some  important  evidence  relative  to  the  use  of  an  article  called 
‘ Ball’s  Patent  Indestructible  Cement  Pipe,’  the  Commissioners  de- 
cided to  test  that  evidence  by  inquiries  in  places  where  this  pipe 
had  been  introduced.  For  this  purpose,  Messrs.  Lane  and  Davee 
visited  the  city  of  Bockland,  in  the  State  of  Maine,  where  this  pipe 
has  been  some  three  years  in  use,  and  Mr.  Sherman  visited  the  estab- 
lishment in  Jersey  City,  N.  J.,  where  the  pipe  is  manufactured;  and 
the  result  of  all  their  inquiries  was  so  entirely  corroborative  of  the 
facts  presented  by  the  committee  of  1854,  (provided  a proper  degree 
of  care  is  observed,  and  a suitable  material  used  in  its  constiuction,) 
that  an  adoption  of  this  pipe  was  decided  upon ; and  on  the  29th  of 
March  a contract  was  concluded  with  the  ‘Jersey  City  Patent 
Water  and  Gas  Pipe  Company,’  under  which  57,679  feet,  or  nearly 
eleven  miles,  of  main  and  distributing  pipe  have  been  put  down, 
besides  a corresponding  amount  of  service  pipe  of  the  same  ma- 
terial. 

“ And  so  far  as  we  can  form  an  estimate  of  the  value  of  this  pipe 
by  our  experience  thus  far,  it  has  been  in  the  highest  degree  satis- 
factory. The  water  has  been  flowing  through  a considerable  por- 
tion of  the  pipes  since  the  15th  of  August,  and  through  all  of  them 
from  South  Pond  since  the  29th  of  October,  during  which  time  very 
few  leaks  have  appeared,  much  less  indeed  than  might  have  been  an- 
ticipated in  tlie  same  number  of  connections  of  iron  pipe,  while  the 
water  appears  to  flow  with  perfect  purity  and  freedom  ; and  where  oc- 
casions have  been  presented  for  disturbing  the  pipe,  it  has  been  found 
in  a condition  to  warrant  a belief  that  it  will  be,  w'hat  the  manufac- 
turers claim  for  it,  indestructible.” 

Chas.  0.  Churchill, 

M.  Bates,  Jr., 

Johnson  Davee, 
Daniel  J.  Lane, 

E.  C.  Sherman, 
William  Hall, 
Samuel  H.  Doten, 
David  Drew. 


^*ly mouth,  March  1,  1856. 


5 

The  following  is  an  extract  from  Report  of  W.  S.  Wiiit- 

VVELL,  Esq.,  [former  Chief  Engineer  of  the  Cochiiuate  Water 
Works,  Boston,  Mass.,  and  also  former  Chief  Engineer  of  the  Jersey 
City  Water  Works,  New- Jersey,)  to  the  Board  of  Water  Commis- 
sioners OF  Plymouth. 

* * * “ The  next  question  was,  the  kind  of  pipe  to  be  used. 

“ Two  kinds  of  pipe  were  proposed— -the  cast  iron  pipe  and  the 
iron  cement  pipe,  known  as  ‘ Ball’s  Patent.’  With  the  latter  I had 
been  acquainted  for  several  years,  and  from  its  cleanliness,  cheap- 
ness and  durability,  I was  much  inclined  to  advise  its  adoption  with- 
out any  qualification.  As  a precautionary  measure,  I proposed  that  a 
committee  of  your  Board  should  visit  Rockland,  in  Maine,  where 
these  pipes  had  been  in  use  for  nearly  two  years,  to  learn  there  if 
any  objections  existed  to  their  use,  and  if  they  had  answered  the 
expectations  that  had  been  formed  of  them.  Your  committee  returned 
so  well  satisfied  with  the  report  received  of  them,  that  they  were 
adopted  without  further  hesitation. 

“ The  great  objection  to  the  iron  pipe  is  found  in  the  rapid  incrus- 
tation which  takes  place  on  the  inside  of  the  pipe,  and  very  soon 
seriously  diminishes  its  capacity : this  becomes  a matter  of  much 
more  consequence  with  the  small  pipes  than  with  those  of  a larger 
size,  and  while  in  a thirty-inch  pipe  the  diminution  of  capacity  would 
be  scarcely  perceptible  for  seven  or  eight  years,  in  a pipe  of  ten 
inches  diameter,  the  incrustation  of  four  years  would,  probably, 
reduce  the  capacity  one-fifth.  The  ‘iron  and  cement  pipe’  is  free 
from  this  objection  ; the  bore  remains  always  of  the  same  diameter, 
always  clean,  and  becomes  harder  and  more  durable  by  age.  With 
proper  care  in  selecting  the  best  quality  of  cement,  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  the  pipes,  and  in  making  the  joints,  I consider  this  as  the  best 
water  pipe  now  in  use  for  the  supply  of  towns  and  villages,  and  it 
may  yet  be  found  to  succeed  quite  as  well  in  large  cities. 

“ The  Board  have  reason  to  be  satisfied  with  the  decision  they 
have  made,  as  they  have  materially  decreased  the  cost  of  the  work 
by  the  use  of  this  pipe,  and  owing  to  the  care  and  superintendency 
of  Mr.  Bates  and  Mr.  Davee,  together  with  the  earnest  desire  of  the 
Pipe  Company  to  have  the  work  done  in  a thorough  and  careful 
manner,  there  is  every  reason  to  believe  that  the  expense  for  repairs 
will  be  unusually  small. 


Respectfully  submitted, 

W.  S.  Whitwell, 

Consulting  Engineer. 


Boston,  Feh’y,  1856. 


6 


The  following  is  from  the  Water  Commissioners  and  Trustees  of  the 
Village  of  Saratoga  Springs,  N.  Y. 

“ 111  answer  to  the  numerous  inquiries  in  relation  to  J,  Ball  & 
Co’s  Indestructible  Water  Pipe,  composed  of  iron  and  cement, 
and  in  use  in  our  village,  the  undesigned,  water  commissioners,  trus- 
tees, and  late  trustees  of  the  village  of  Saratoga  Springs,  take  this 
method  of  saying,  that  we  have  perfect  confidence  in  the  utility,  good- 
ness, and  durability  of  said  pipe.  The  village  of  Saratoga  Springs 
has  some  20,000  feet  of  this  pipe,  varying  from  to  1^  inches  in 
diameter,  under  a head  of  about  80  feet.  It  has  been  laid  since  the 
fall  of  1846.  Since  it  was  fully  completed,  it  has  cost  nothing  com- 
paratively to  keep  it  in  repair  ; and.  although  some  portions  are  ex- 
posed to  the  frost,  it  seems  to  stand  well  the  test,  and  answer  all  the 
purposes  for  which  it  was  designed  and  constructed.  We  believe  it 
preferable  to  iron  pipe — is  much  cheaper  and  more  durable  ; and 
we  would  not  exchange  it  for  any  other  kind  of  pipe  yet  invented,  if  we 
could  without  any  additional  expense  or  inconvenience.  The  water 
comes  through  clear  and  pure  ; and  where  we  have  had  any  occa- 
cion  to  take  any  part  of  it  up  to  improve  or  alter  the  grounds,  it  ap- 
peared to  be  just  as  sound  and  imperishable  as  the  moment  it  was 
laid  down.  This  testimony  is  entirely  disinterested,  and  is  now 
given  to  avoid  the  necessity  of  answering  the  many  calls  upon  us  for 
information  upon  this  subject.  We  have  witnessed,  and  many  of  us 
have  superintended  the  laying  down  of  the  pipe  in  this  village,  and 
watched  its  operations  since,  and  are  perfectly  satisfied  that  we  have 
the  best  water-pipe  ever  presented  to  the  public. 

Saratoga  Springs,  December,  1849. 

S.  Chapman, 

J.  A.  Corey, 

W.  S.  Alger, 

William  Cook, 

Late  Trustees. 

G.  M.  Davidson, 

B.  PUTNA3I, 

N.  B.  Doe, 

Water  Commissioners . 


R.  Gardner, 

H.  P.  Hayde, 

J.  L.  Perry, 

J.  D.  Briggs, 

, Trustees. 


“ I certify  that  I was  Chief  Engineer  of  the  above  work  in  charge, 
and  fully  concur  in  the  foregoing  statement. 


Dec.  1849. 


S.  B.  Ostrander,  Civil  Engineer.” 


7 


Saratoga  Springs,  March  30,  1857. 

To  the  Fuhlic  : — 

The  undersigned.  Trustees  of  the  village  of  Saratoga  Springs, 
hereby  certify,  that  in  the  year  1846,  Messrs  J.  Ball  & Co.,  laid 
down  for  this  village  about  four  miles  of  water  pipe,  made  of 
wrought  iron  lined  with  and  laid  in  hydraulic  cement;  that  this 
work  was  done  in  a most  satisfactory  manner,  and  the  pipe  has 
given  entire  satisfaction  ever  since,  the  repairs  of  the  same  costing 
less  and  less  each  succeeding  year.  The  total  cost  in  the  last 
eleven  years  being  $15  per  annum,  cost  for  the  year  1856  being 
Sl3.  25.  We  consider  this  pipe  as  perfect  and  durable  now  as  when 
first  put  down,  and  even  more  so,  as  the  hydraulic  cement  continues 
to  grow  harder  and  harder  each  succeeding  year.  The  water  is 
delivered  through  the  pipes  as  clear  as  at  the  fountain,  and  there  are 
no  incrustations  from  rust  as  with  cast  iron. 

The  process  of  tapping  is  simple  and  perfect,  and  can  be  done  as 
well  with  a head  of  water  in  the  pipes  as  when  they  are  empty. 

In  re-grading  one  of  our  streets  in  1856,  we  were  obliged  to  take 
up  and  re-lay  a portion  of  the  main  pipe,  and  we  found  it  as  per- 
fect as  when  laid  five  years  ago.  It  seemed  as  imperishable  as 
the  rock.  Such  is  the  condition  of  all  the  water  pipes  laid  in  this 
village,  and  we  prefer  it  to  any  other  now  in  use. 

J.  A Corey, 

W.  J.  Hendrick, 

A.  S.  Maxwell, 

E.  B.  Stonet, 

P.  H.  Green, 

W.  S.  Baulch, 

Trustees  of  the  Village  of  Saratoga  Springs. 


Cambridge,  Sept.  28,  1853. 

I have  examined,  somewhat  in  detail,  the  pipe  manufactured  by 
Ball  & Co.,  for  conveying  and  distributing  water.  I have  repeat- 
edly attended  upon  their  manufacture,  and  the  inspection  prepara- 
tory to  use.  I have  further  attended  upon  the  laying  down  of  the 
pipes,  and  observed  the  mode  of  imbedding  in  and  coating  with 


8 


cement,  the  connection  of  sections  of  pipe,  the  j)iercing  for  lateral 
service  pipes,  and,  I believe,  all  the  the  various  processes  by  w^hich 
the  pipes  are  fitted  for  use. 

With  strict  fidelity  on  the  part  of  the  workmen  and  engineer,  the 
above  kind  of  pipe  may  be  made  and  laid  down  so  as  satisfactorily 
to  fulfil  the  general  purpose  of  water  distribution. 

The  advantage  of  the  pipes  of  Ball  &Co.  are,  that,  after  a few  days 
of  use,  the  water  is  transmitted  entirely  unchanged  ; the  pipes  do  not 
corrode  and  encrust  so  as  to  diminish  the  service  capacity;  the 
strength  increases  with  age  ; and  the  cheapness  will  make  it  possible 
to  introduce  water  into  places  where  the  cost  of  cast-iron  pipes 
would  leave  it  imjDOssible. 

E.  N.  Horsford, 
Rumford  Professor,  Harvard  University. 


Eockland  Main,  March  31,  1857. 

The  undersigned,  having  had  the  care  of  the  Works  of  the  Rock- 
land Water  Company  for  the  past  four  years,  hereby  certifies  that 
said  corporation  contracted  with  Messrs.  J.  Ball,  and  N.  Stephens, 
of  New-York,  to  furnish  said  works  with  the  Patent  Indestructible 
Water  Pipe,  and  that  in  the  summer  of  A.  D.  1851,  they  laid  in  this 
City  sixteen  miles  of  pipe  of  the  different  sizes,  from  nine  to  two 
inches  diameter,  of  wrought  iron  pipe  lined  and  laid  in  hydraulic 
cement,  since  which  time  it  has  been  under  a pressure  of  ninety  feet 
head,  and  has  given  perfect  satisfaction. 

The  cost  of  repairs  has  been  very  small  and  decreasing,  so  that 
in  A.  D.  1856,  the  whole  repairs  amounted  to  but  twenty-five 
dollars. 

We  would  recommend  this  pipe  to  Towns  and  Cities  contemplat- 
ing constructing  Water  Works,  as  far  superior  to  cast  iron  in  the 
purity  of  the  water,  and  costing  much  less  at  first,  and  for  repairs 
afterwards. 

AV.  Farnsworth, 

President  Rockland  Water  Co. 


9 


Bridgeport,  Conn.  April  1st,  1857. 

The  undersigned,  Superindendent  of  Water  Works  in  Bridgeport, 
hereby  certifies,  that  in  1854,  Messrs  Ball  and  Stephens  executed  a 
contract  for  supplying  this  City  with  water  pipe,  made  of  wrought 
iron,  lined  with  and  laid  in  Hydraulic  Cement,  and  known  as  Ball’s 
Patent  Indestructible  Water  Pipe. 

Under  this  contract  about  12  miles  of  pipe  were  laid,  varying  from 
two  to  twenty  inches  in  diameter.  This  pipe  has  been  in  constant  use 
since  1854,  and  has  given  entire  satisfaction;  I would  therefore  re- 
commend its  adoption  by  all  Towns  and  Cities  contemplating  TValer 
Wbr/cs,  as  being  preferable  to  cast-iron  pipe,  inasmuch  as  it  delivers 
the  water  as  pure  as  when  it  enters  the  pipe  ; furthermore,  it  is 
not  at  all  liable  to  incrustations  from  rust,  wliich  is  very  objectionable 
in  other  cast-iron  pipes.  It  costs  much  less  originally,  and  in  cur- 
rent repairs,  which  last  expense  is  constantly  diminishing.  It  can 
also  be  tapped  readily  and  even  better  than  cast-iron,  either  with  the 
pipe  full  or  empty^of  water. 

Henry  Edwards, 

Sup't  Bridgeport  Water  Bend  Co. 


Watertown,  Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April  24,  1857. 

To  the  Patent  Water  and  Gas  Pipe  Company, 

Jersey  City,  N.  J: 

In  the  year  1853,  Messrs.  J.  Ball  & Co.,  of  New-York  city,  took 
the  contract  to  construct  our  water  works,  and  laid  down  in  this 
town  about  ten  miles  of  wrought  iron  water  pipe,  lined  with  and  laid 
in  hydraulic  cement,  the  diameter  of  pipe  varying  from  three  to  ten 
inches.  The  work  was  executed  in  a skillful  and  satisfactory  man- 
ner, and  under  a five  year  guarantee,  and  has  been  in  constant  use 
since  completed.  The  water  is  forced  IJ  miles,  and  to  an  elevation 
of  200  feet,  and  delivers  water  under  an  extreme  head  of  240  feet. 
The  cost  of  repairs  of  this  pipe  has  been  very  light,  and  is  less  each 
year  as  the  pipe  grows  older.  We,  with  three  and  one-half  years 
experience,  consider  the  pipe  superior  to  any  other  in  the  convey- 
ance of  water,  as  it  delivers  the  water  as  pure  and  clear  as  when  it 
enters  the  pipe  ; and  from  what  we  can  discover,  appears  to  be 
entirely  exempt  from  liability  to  incrustation  from  rust.  The  first 
cost  of  this  pipe  is  from  20  to  25  per  cent,  less  than  cast  iron,  and 
we  believe  it  to  be  more  durable,  as  the  older  it  grows,  the  more 


10 


perfect  it  appears  to  become.  We  unhesitatingly  recommend  it  to 
towns  and  cities  about  constructing  water  works.  We  will  cheer- 
fully answer  any  reference  that  may  be  made  to  us  on  the  subject. 

J.  L.  Baker, 

G.  0.  Shuman, 

J.  W.  Fisk, 

Howell  Cooper, 

Wm.  H.  Angel, 

Water  Commissioners. 


Office  of  Plymouth  Water  Commissioners, 
Plymouth,  Mass.,  April  3,  1857. 

McRee  Swift,  Esq.,  Jersey  City,  N.  J.  : 

Sir — The  pipe  laid  by  the  “Jersey  City  Patent  Water  and  Gas 
Pipe  Company  ” for  the  town  of  Plymouth,  during  the  year  1855, 
has  thus  far  given  perfect  satisfaction.  Wherever  the  pipe  has  been 
exposed  to  view  by  the  laying  of  service  pipe,  it  is  in  appearance  as 
designated,  by  the  name  “ Indestructible.”  There  is  ahead  of  water 
of  one  hundred  and  five  feet,  and  it  is  undoubtedly  capable  of  sus- 
taining a far  greater  pressure.  To  the  present  time  there  has  been 
laid  from  eleven  to  twelve  miles  of  pipe  of  the  following  sizes  : — 

18,226  feet  of  10  inch.  20,341  feet  of  4 inch. 

4,050  “ “ 8 “ 13,547  “ “ 2 “ 

3,984  “ “ 6 “ 

A careful  inquiry  was  made  previous  to  commencing  the  works, 
for  the  purpose  of  ascertaining  the  best  material  for  pipe,  as  to 
strength,  durability  and  cheapness.  The  result  of  the  investigation 
was  the  adoption  of  a resolution  to  use  the  “ Iron  and  Cement  Pipe,” 
and  our  experience  thus  far  has  shown  that  the  selection  was  judi- 
ciously made.  This  pipe  was  also  found  to  be  much  cheaper  than 
cast  iron,  but  would  be  preferable  on  the  score  of  economy,  if  the 
cost  were  the  same,  as  it  is  entirely  free  from  incrustation,  present- 
ing a smooth  surface  on  the  inside,  and  no  reduction  of  the  quantity 
of  water  delivered  being  apprehended.  Pipe  of  smaller  size  can  be 
used  than  of  a material  that  will  diminish  in  size,  by  coating  of  rust. 

But  little  expense  has  been  incurred  by  rejiairs  of  leakages,  the 
whole  cost  to  the  present  time  having  been  but  $138.07,  most  of 
which  was  incurred  within  six  months  from  the  time  the  water  was 


11 


first  let  on,  a nd  for  a year  past  the  cost  of  repairs  has  not  exceeded 
$40,  and  will  undoubtedly  continue  to  decrease. 

We  find  no  difficulty  in  tapping  the  pipe  with  the  head  of  water 
on,  and  consider  it  preferable  to  shutting  off  the  water  and  draining 
the  pipe  for  that  purpose. 

From  the  experience  thus  far,  we  can  recommend  the  use  of  the 
pipe  made  by  this  Company  for  conducting  water,  and  in  fulfilling 
the  terms  of  the  contract  between  them  and  the  town,  no  pains 
were  spared  on  their  part  to  perform  the  work  creditably  to  them- 
selves and  satisfactory  to  the  Commissioners. 

Jacob  H.  Loud, 

Johnson  Davee, 

Chas.  O.  Churchill, 

Water  Commissioners  of  Plymouth. 


Pittsfield  Mass.,  April  29,  1857. 

In  the  year  1855,  the  Patent  Water  and  Gas  Pipe  Company  laid 
for  the  Fire  District  of  this  town,  between  nine  and  ten  miles  of 
•water  pipe,  made  of  wrought-iron  lined  and  laid  in  hydraulic  cement  J 
with  diameter  varying  from  three  to  ten  inches.  The  pipe  delivers 
the  water  in  as  pure  a state  as  when  it  enters  the  pipe,  under  a head 
varying  from  136  to  180  feet.  The  pipe  does  not  incrust  or  fill  up 
like  the  cast*-iron  pipe,  and  costs  much  less.  The  pipe  as  a water 
conductor,  gives  great  satisfaction.  The  repairs  are  not  costly  and 
are  decreasing  each  year.  We  unhesitatingly  recommend  the  pipe 
to  Towns  and  Cities  about  to  use  water  pijDes,  and  we  take  plea- 
sure in  saying  that  we  have  found  the  Company  prompt  and  just  in 
their  dealings  with  us. 

E.  H.  Kellogg, 

Thomas  F.  Plunkett, 

Water  Commissioners. 


Paterson,  N.  J.,  March  25th,  1857. 

This  may  cei’tify,  that  the  Passaic  Water  Company,  in  July  1856, 
contracted  with  the  Jersey  City  Patent  Water  and  Gas  Pipe  Com- 
pany, to  lay  down  supply  pipes  for  said  Company  for  the  City  of 
Paterson. 

The  work  was  commenced  by  the  Jersey  City  Company  the 
eleventh  of  August,  and  was,  so  far  as  the  same  is  now  done,  com- 
pleted on  the  third  day  of  November  following. 


12 


The  length  of*  the  pipe  has  been  10  J miles  ; the  size  of  pipes,  12, 
10,  8,  6 and  4 inches,  in  about  equal  proportions  of  each  size. 

The  water  was  let  into  the  pipes  the  first  of  December ; the 
greatest  pressure  one  hundred  feet;  the  average  about  seventy  feet. 

The  pipe  has  proved  satisfactory  : it  has  not  in  a single  instance 
burst  in  the  length  of  pipes,  and  but  few  leaks  have  occurred  at  the 
joining  of  the  pipe  under  the  sleeve,  which  have  been  speedily  and 
economically  repaired.  These  leaks  have  occurred  in  my  opinion 
from  imperfect  construction  at  the  joint,  at  the  time  the  pipe  was 
originally  laid.  Our  Company  will  complete  their  work  this  spring, 
consisting  of  say  14  miles  of  pipes,  64  stop  gates  and  130 
hydrants. 

This  pipe  can  be  readily  tapped  with  water  in  the  pipe  and 
faucets  inserted.  The  pipe  I regard  in  durability  and  strength 
equal  to  iron,  while  it  possesses  this  advantage,  of  being  free  from 
oxydization,  which  iron  is  not.  We  have  found  the  President  and 
Directors  of  the  Jersey  City  Patent  Water  and  Gas  Pipe  Company 
prompt  in  their  undertakings,  and  faithfully  abiding  their  contracts. 

Thomas  D.  Hoxsey, 

President  Passaic  Water  Co. 


Jersey  City,  March  23,  1857. 

W.  H.  Talcott,  Esq.,  President 

Jersey  City  Water  and  Gas  Pipe  Co. : 

Dear  Sir — During  the  past  three  years  there  has  been  laid,  as  a 
part  of  the  distribution  of  the  Jersey  City  Water  Works,  upwards 
of  one  mile  of  wrought  iron  and  cement  pipe,  manufactured  and  laid 
by  your  Company,  of  four,  six  and  twelve  inches  diameter.  The 
first  was  laid  as  an  experiment,  and  with  the  hope  of  finding  in  it  a 
proper  substitute  for  the  cast  iron  pipes  in  general  use. 

The  first  year’s  trial  was  sufficient  to  set  at  rest  any  doubts  as  to 
its  strength,  and  showed  its  adaptation  to  the  conveyance  of  water 
under  great  head  ; for,  with  a head  of  120  feet,  it  has  stood,  and 
continues  to  stand,  as  well  as  any  pipe  in  the  city. 

(j  In  order  to  test  its  strength  and  power  to  resist  the  tendency  to 
settle  and  break,  so  common  in  many  of  our  streets,  a considerable 
portion  was  laid  on  meadow  ground  recently  filled  in.  The  pipe  in 
Greene  Street  was  laid  on  such  ground,  and  being  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  several  foundries  and  machine  shops,  is  subject  to  consideia- 


13 


able  jarring  and  vibration  from  the  passage  of  loaded  veliicles.  Not 
a leak  lias  occurred  in  it,  and  all  the  pipes  in  such  localities  have  been 
remarkably  free  from  leakage. 

So  far,  therefore,  as  the  strength  of  the  pipe  and  its’  application 
to  all  situations  are  concerned,  I consider  the  test  we  have  made  a 
severe  one,  and  am  perfectly  satisfied  with  the  result. 

The  durability  of  the  pipe  was  next  in  question.  Wo  might  safely 
infer  that  the  causes  that  give  it  strength  and  stability  for  a limited 
time  would  preserve  it  for  an  indefinite  period,  and  setting  aside  any 
loss  there  might  be  by  the  attrition  of  the  water,  say  that  it  is  indes- 
tructible. For  myself,  after  the  trial  to  which  the  pipe  had  been 
subjected,  I had  no  doubt  of  its  durability,  and  only  waited  for  an 
opportunity  to  make  it  a matter  of  positive  proof. 

In  the  month  of  April,  1856,  I was  present  at  the  hat  factory  of 
Messrs.  Rankin,  Duryea  & Go.,  in  the  city  of  Newark,  where  a piece 
of  cement  pipe,  three  inches  in  diameter,  was  taken  up,  which  had 
been  used  for  conveying  water  for  ten  years. 

Within  a few  days  I have  been  called  upon  to  be  present  at  the 
taking  up  of  another  piece  of  this  kind  of  pipe,  for  the  purpose  of 
examination.  It  was  three  inches  in  diameter,  and  laid  in  1845,  for 
conveying  water  to  the  rolling  mill  at  North  Point,  in  this  city,  and  for 
supplying  the  locomotives  of  the  New  Jersey  Railroad.  It  was  laid 
on  meadow  ground,  which  has  been  filled  in  from  time  to  time  five 
or  six  feet,  and  being  near  the  railroad  track,  was  sujbect  to  the 
chances  of  settling  and  the  constant  vibration  of  the  ground  by  the 
passing  trains. 

In  this  case,  as  well  as  at  Newark,  the  pipes  were  found  in  a per- 
fect state  of  preservation.  The  cement  covering  had  set  as  hard  as 
stone,  and  the  iron  was  as  fresh  and  bright  as  if  just  out  of  the  shop. 
The  lining  of  cement  showed  no  signs  of  wear,  and  was  free  from 
tubercles  or  accretions,  such  as  are  always  to  be  found  in  cast  iron 
pipes  after  they  have  been  used  several  years,  the  effect  of  which  is, 
a rapid  depreciation  of  the  strength,  and  a constant  diminution  of  the 
capacity  of  the  cast  iron  pipes. 

That  the  cement  pipe  is  absolutely  imperishable,  when  properly 
laid,  there  seems  to  be  no  doubt,  and  this,  together  with  its  economy, 
strength  and  adaptation  to  all  situations,  should  be  sufficient  to  secure 
its  general  introduction. 

Respectfully,  yours. 

Geo.  H.  Bailev, 

Sup't  and  Engineer  on  J.  C,  W.  JV, 


14 


Engineer’s  Office^  Nassau  Water  Co., 

355  Fulton  St.,  Brooklyn,  March  25,  1857. 

Sir — I have  examined,  at  your  request,  a specimen  of  wrought 
iron  and  cement  pipe  of  three  inches  bore,  and  one  of  cast  iron 
pipe,  of  three  inches  bore;  the  former  laid  in  1845,  and  the  latter  in 
1842,  in  Washington  Street,  near  the  corner  of  Wayne,  Jersey  City, 
being  part  of  two  lines  laid  under  the  track  of  the  New-Jersey  Bail- 
road,  near  the  turn-table,  and  connected  so  as  to  pass  the  same 
supply  of  water.  The  inspection  was  made  on  the  ground,  March 
20th,  with  the  pipe  just  taken  from  the  trench,  and  subsequently 
with  the  specimens  in  this  office. 

The  exteiior  of  the  cast  iron  pipe,  except  at  the  joint,  which  is 
much  corroded,  is  in  very  good  condition.  The  entire  interior  is 
coated  with  tubercles,  in  some  cases  separate,  but  generally  in 
groups,  varying  from  a quarter  inch  depth  on  the  upper  side  of  the 
tube  to  five-eighth  inch  in  the  lower.  A large  proportion  of  those  on 
the  lower  side  extend  horizontally  across  the  tube,  reducing  its  ver- 
tical height  to  two  and  one-eighth  inches,  where  the  upper  tubercles 
occur. 

The  exterior  coating  of  cement  of  the  wrought  iron  pipe,  I find 
very  solid,  requiring  considerable  effort  with  a hammer  and  cold 
chisel,  to  remove  it  to  the  iron  tube.  The  lining  has  also  set  very 
compactly,  so  that  in  cutting  through  the  pipe  with  the  chisel,  very 
little  is  broken  away  from  the  edges  of  the  cut.  There  is  a slight 
discoloration  on  the  lower  side  of  the  interior,  owing  to  the  sedi- 
mentary deposit  of  its  contents,  but  the  entire  interior  is  as  perfect 
in  form  and  smoothness  as  when  first  laid  down. 

Examining  the  iron,  (which  is  about  twenty  to  twenty-two  wire 
guage,)  especially  with  regard  to  the  joints,  rivets  and  sleeves,  I find 
no  traces  of  oxydization  whatever,  the  iron  in  these  several  parts 
retaining  its  freshness  of  color  and  perfection  of  form,  as  if  newly 
laid.  (At  the  time  of  laying  the  pipe,  a piece  of  twine,  not  quite  one- 
sixteenth  inch  thick  and  two  feet  long,  was  imbedded  in  the  cement, 
the  preservative  influence  of  which  is  singularly  illustrated  in  the 
fact  that  the  twine  still  keeps  its  original  color,  and  when  tested  with 
a spring  balance,  stood  for  sometime  a regular  strain  as  high  as 
twelve  pounds.) 

This  examination  simply  confirms,  by  its  clear  and  forcible  testi- 
mony, a conclusion  at  which  I arrived  on  this  subject,  several  years 
ago,  having  taken  pains  to  study  the  character  of  this  pipe,  since 
it  first  attracted  my  notice  at  Albany,  in  1847.  Cast  iron  pipe 
is  objectionable,  in  my  opinion,  from  its  costliness  and  weight,  its 


15 


losses  of  lenglli  at  the  joint,  its  discoloration  of  the  water  by  oxydes, 
its  reduction  of  area  by  tubercles,  and  the  difficulty  of  making  and 
keeping  and  strong  joints;  points  in  which  the  superiority  of  the 
other  pipe  is  clearly  demonstrated. 

Very  respectfully,  yours, 

Samuel  McElroy, 

Assistant  Engineer  Brooklyn  Water  Works. 

W.  H.  Talcott,  Esq., 

PresH  Water  and  Gas  Pipe  Co.^  Jersey  City. 


Office  Nassau  Water  Company, 
Brooklyn,  April  25,  1857. 

McRee  Swift^  Esq.^  Engineer  Patent 
Water  and  Gas  Pipe  Co. 

My  dear  Sir — In  compliance  with  your  request,  I make  the  follow- 
ing memorandum  in  regard  to  the  places  visited  by  me,  where  the 
Patent  Wrought-iron  and  Cement  Pipes  are  used  in  the  water  dis- 
tribution. 

Although  I did  not  feel  satisfied  that  the  amount  of  information 
attainable  in  these  visits,  sufficiently  indoctrinated  me  in  the  pecu- 
liarities of  the  pipe,  to  warrant  my  recommending  it  for  general  adop- 
tion in  a large  City,  nor  that  it  had  been  yet  subjected  any  where 
for  a sufficient  time  to  a severe  City  test,  I was  yet  very  favor- 
ably impressed  with  its  powers  to  resist  a high  pressure,  and  with 
the  remarkable  purity  of  the  water  delivered  by  it. 

I visited  four  places  last  season,  in  which  the  wrought-iron  and  ce- 
ment pipes  are  used  entirely,  viz. : Watertown  and  Saratoga,  in  the 
State  of  New  York ; Pittsfield,  in  Massachusetts;  and  Paterson,  in 
New  Jersey ; and  one  place,  Buffalo,  where  they  are  used  partially. 

In  Watertown  (7,000  inhabitants)  the  wrought-iron  cement  pipe 
was  laid  in  1853,  and  has  been  in  use  since  November,  1853 ; eight 
to  nine  miles  of  the  pipe  are  laid,  subject  to  a head  of  water  varyLg 
from  187  feet  in  the  Public  Square  to  247  feet  in  the  lowest  streets 
in  the  place.  During  the  first  winter  and  spring  there  was  consider- 
able leakage  at  the  joints;  this  was  corrected,  and  there  has  been 
very  little  leakage  since.  The  two  Water  commissioners,  whom  I 
met,  expressed  themselves  entirely  satisfied  with  the  pipe.  The  wa- 


16 


ter  for  the  supply  of  Watertown  pumped  from  Black  River  into  a 
reservoir,  situated  one  and  a quarter  miles  from  tlie  pump,  and  200 
feet  above  the  pump  well,  an  eight  inch  wrought-iron  and  cement 
pipe  conducts  the  water  from  the  pumps  to  the  reservoir.  I could 
not  ascertain  that  the  pipe  failed  in  any  way  to  fulfil  the  duties  re- 
quired of  it. 

At  Saratoga,  the  cement  pipe  has  been  in  use  eleven  years.  The 
supply  is  brought  from  a small  reservoir,  situated  three  miles  from 
the  village.  The  water  is  brought  in  a six  inch  main,  and  distri- 
buted through  the  streets  of  the  place  by  six  inch  and  three  inch 
pipes.  The  head  of  water  is  (75)  seventy-five  feet,  opposite  the 
Congress  Springs  House,  and  will  average  fifty  and  sixty  feet  through 
the  village.  I met  two  of  the  Water  Commissioners  and  the  gentle- 
man in  charge  of  the  repairs,  &c.  The  parties  expressed  themselves 
highly  satisfied  with  the  pipe. 

At  Buffalo,  the  distribution  of  water  is  made  by  iron  pipe,  with 
the  exception  of  three  thousand  feet  of  cement  pipe,  of  six  inch  dia- 
meter. The  Superintendent  of  the  Water  Works  there,  informed 
me  that  this  pipe  was  laid  on  made  ground,  where  it  was  supposed 
that  it  would  be  subjected  to  unequal  strain  from  the  settlement  of 
the  new  embankment.  The  cement  pipes  have  been  laid  four  years, 
and  the  Superintendent  states  that  they  have  had  no  difficulty  with 
them. 

At  Pittsfield  there  are  ten  miles  of  cement  pipe  laid.  The  water 
is  brought  in  from  a point  about  three  miles  distant,  in  a ten  inch 
main ; at  the  “ Green,”  the  head  of  water  on  the  pipe  is  one  hundred 
and  forty  (140)  feet,  and  in  the  lowest  portions  of  the  village  one 
hundred  and  seventy  (170)  feet.  The  supply  is  distributed  through 
the  streets  of  the  village  in  seven,  six,  four  and  three  inch  pipes.  I 
met  two  of  the  Water  Commissioners  and  the  person  in  charge  of 
repairs.  This  was  the  first  season  of  the  supply  there.  When  the 
water  was  first  let  into  the  pipes,  some  of  the  joints  were  found  to 
be  defective  and  leaky;  now  they  have  been  made  entirely  tight, 
and  seem  to  give  perfect  satisfaction  ; there  have  been  no  pipes  bro- 
ken except  by  frost.  The  water  was  hard  for  three  weeks  after  it 
was  let  on,  but  this  effect  of  the  cement  is  not  perceived  now. 

In  the  city  of  Brooklyn,  as  a test  of  the  sufficiency  of  this  kind 
of  pipe,  the  Water  Commissioners  have,  at  my  recommendation, 
agreed  to  lay  21,000  feet  of  the  wrought  iron  and  cement  pipe,  of 
20  inch,  12  inch,  8 inch  and  6 inch  diameters,  connecting  it  with  the 
general  distribution.  I am,  sir,  respectfully. 

Your  ob’t  servant, 

.Tames  P.  Kirkwood. 


